Like most of the civilised world, I watched the Rugby World Cup final on Saturday. It was brilliant; an astonishing, almost Godlike display of power and skill, control under pressure and immense strength.
And like most of the civilised world, I was delighted and amazed by the footage shot after the game of the All Black second row, Sonny Bill Williams, who intervened when a young New Zealand fan ran onto the pitch and was tackled by security as he tried to get to his heroes.
Now the security guy was right in a way: there needs to be care taken over public events and public spaces where thousands of people are all getting thoroughly overexcited.
But Sonny Bill Williams was right too, because in a situation like that, a strong response needs to balanced by the justice of the moment.
It’s a bit like the line in the Bible, where Job describes God and says this: “If it is a matter of strength, he is mighty! And if it is a matter of justice, who can challenge him?”
Now I’m not saying Sonny Bill Williams is God (although if you’d seen him in action you’d be forgiven for thinking he might be), but what I would say is that just then, in that moment, he did something that was so right, it felt like a reflection of Gods character.
Christians believe we’re all made in the image of God. What that means is that we are all made to be like God and that when we’re at our best, we all display something of his perfect character: we can be loving and generous, creative and imaginative, wise, kind, smart, compassionate and merciful – and we can temper mighty strength with unchallengeable justice.
Maybe, then, in those few seconds, Sonny Bill Williams actually was a bit like God, because he showed a little bit of what God is like; but no more or less than anyone else you might meet today – a teacher, a police officer, a shop assistant, a radio producer, your next-door neighbour – because I reckon everyone has that same potential to showcase something perfect.
So I’m planning to keep my eyes open around the people I meet today. I think I might see something really extraordinary.