D'Artagnan 13,319 Posted May 10, 2013 Share Posted May 10, 2013 “See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. “(Isaiah 48:10)To describe the events at or club in recent times as “extraordinary” would be the understatement of the year. And as we Bears read of more boardroom unrest and battles, sadly via the media, the only thing missing from the pantomime which is currently our club, is the Benny Hill theme tune.In fact it may seem there is little cause for comfort at our club, either on or off the field, but I beg to differ.It's been over forty years since my grandmother died. For those old enough to remember it, she was a member of The Temple Mission in Anniesland. She was a woman who manifested the Presbyterian faith she sought to uphold, being both a living example of the Word she held so dear. No surprise then that this boy was raised on biblical stories and proverbs and their application to the present day. A particular favourite of hers was how the Bible teaches that the most precious and valuable metals are refined by fire. Adversity was a test, a refining, which would produce a far more valuable and worthwhile product by the end of the process.Many years later, on the completion of my commando training, I stood in the officers mess at the Commando Training Centre, Lympstone. It was only my second ever visit to the officers mess - the first had been on the day I had joined, when along with 65 other recruits, I had stood and listen to various addresses. Now however the sixty six had been whittled down to just 12, the gruelling nature of Commando training had done it's own refining. That evening the address was given to us by the Adjutant, Lieutenant Ian Gardiner, whose rhetoric that evening attempted to prepare us all for the demands of being attached to a commando unit......”When you are up to your arsehole in alligators – just remember it builds character” he told us.Whilst they were not words my grandmother would ever have used , I did see the parallels between alligators and metal refining !But as the saying goes “true life is stranger than fiction” and a few years later I found myself sharing the the most meagre of shell scrapes on the slopes of Two Sisters in the Falklands, with the now Captain Ian Gardiner, whilst an Argentine Browning Machine Gun on sustained fire mode, attempted to end our lives. Amidst the chattering of mortars, machine guns and various other battle sounds, I shouted at Captain Gardiner “Does this qualify as being up to your arsehole in alligators ?” His reply “And then some” confirmed the gravity of our situation. The likelihood and acceptance of death had allowed for humour even in the most trying of circumstances. Had it not been for the skill of a Royal Marine sniper with a night scope, you would not be reading this now and Ian Gardiner would not have gone on to carve a successful career as an author.As our club has lurched from crisis to crisis there has been an ever present constant at every stage - The Rangers support. Amidst the darkness of the age they have been like a shining beacon of hope defying the prophets and soothsayers of doom with their loyalty to a football club.But having been thrown into the forge this support has been refined in the process. There is now a greater understanding of the depths and measures others will stoop to in order to damage our club.Furthermore there is a belief and understanding as businessman come and go, that the very heart and soul of Rangers Football Club beats not in a boardroom, but in the Rangers support themselves.Accusations of “gloryhunters” have been destroyed as the heart and soul of this club set new world records for the statisticians to record. Reporters came from across the continents, not to report on a boardroom in turmoil, but to witness the heart and soul of a football club actively beating for the world to see.The history books will record it as a triumph over adversity, as a support refined by fire, scorched the predictions of those who said the heart and soul would fail in the face of such adversity.But perhaps the greatest product of this refining process is a re-discovery for us all of the importance of Rangers FC in our lives.One day soon the furnace of affliction will be at an end, and a support refined by fire will have their say. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
77amurai 258 Posted May 10, 2013 Share Posted May 10, 2013 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
reddrock 107 Posted May 10, 2013 Share Posted May 10, 2013 Superb D,Art , made the hairs on my stand up for the right reasons , not like serving in NI did lol.with your permission i am gonna pinch and print and put on the office wall . Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
minstral 5,375 Posted May 10, 2013 Share Posted May 10, 2013 Top class article Dart. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
trublusince1982 768 Posted May 10, 2013 Share Posted May 10, 2013 Well said, well put and thank you for your service. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
trueblue68 2,497 Posted May 10, 2013 Share Posted May 10, 2013 Thank you Sir. Top notch as always. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
allgers 735 Posted May 10, 2013 Share Posted May 10, 2013 Well done mate, now I just need to read this to the missus, she's wondering why I'm sitting here with tears in my eye's, it's been an emotional year. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
VERITAS VOS LIBREBETS 3,418 Posted May 10, 2013 Share Posted May 10, 2013 Great piece again D'Art - still serving I see.Thank you. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil 1,150 Posted May 10, 2013 Share Posted May 10, 2013 D'Art, I'm sure your aware that I enjoy your articles from the amount of likes I give them, but that's been IMO the best piece I've read on this whole situation Fantastic article once again and I'm sure your Grandmother would be extremely proud of the values that you maintained to get through what must have been some dangerous situations.Our support has always been more refined than some others mind you Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beaujolais 1,371 Posted May 10, 2013 Share Posted May 10, 2013 Great piece and total respect for any one who gains their (dare I mention the word) green lid. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
D'Artagnan 13,319 Posted May 10, 2013 Author Share Posted May 10, 2013 Superb D,Art , made the hairs on my stand up for the right reasons , not like serving in NI did lol.with your permission i am gonna pinch and print and put on the office wall .Permission duly granted. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
elephants stoned 2,994 Posted May 10, 2013 Share Posted May 10, 2013 Great work by D'Art again, if bloggers were footballers you would be Lionel Messi Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonok 1,245 Posted May 10, 2013 Share Posted May 10, 2013 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue and True 311 Posted May 10, 2013 Share Posted May 10, 2013 Very good mate I liked that...... Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mearns loyal 2,840 Posted May 10, 2013 Share Posted May 10, 2013 Superb observation Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reformation Bear 6,453 Posted May 10, 2013 Share Posted May 10, 2013 A great article - I enjoyed reading it. Looking ahead a bit and borrowing a wee bit from part of your theme - it is also true that where there is no vision the people perish. Perish is not on the agenda by any stretch of the imagination but the vision bit is. I sincerely hope that top quality leadership can be established at Ibrox - the sort of leadership that knows how to lead Rangers back to the very top and who can swiftly and effectively put the recent turbulence behind us. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Hubbard 280 Posted May 10, 2013 Share Posted May 10, 2013 see when you said at the start about your presbytarian mammyI thought......fuck sake D'art is Leggo ! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blumhoilann 6,715 Posted May 10, 2013 Share Posted May 10, 2013 Great write D'art,I sincerely hope a copy is sent to every board member,that they realize they are there in those positions for Rangers and not for themselves.....You're obviously of Covenanter stock,like myself,now there were people who stood for what they believed in. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
quinty 1,445 Posted May 10, 2013 Share Posted May 10, 2013 Hoofing Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
D'Artagnan 13,319 Posted May 10, 2013 Author Share Posted May 10, 2013 see when you said at the start about your presbytarian mammyI thought......fuck sake D'art is Leggo !Lol thats one exclusive Leggo cant claim - having a Presbyterian granny ! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Long Shadow 18 Posted May 10, 2013 Share Posted May 10, 2013 Yet again a great piece and "the greatest product of this refining process is a re-discovery for us all of the importance of Rangers FC in our lives" really hit the nail on the head for me Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
devref 201 Posted May 10, 2013 Share Posted May 10, 2013 great read again you do have a way with the words and putting it across. and the wee bit of gallows humour in there is so true of those I have met who have served. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pcbear 10,932 Posted May 10, 2013 Share Posted May 10, 2013 Top notch as per from our resident wordsmith. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TEFTONG 61,246 Posted May 10, 2013 Share Posted May 10, 2013 Truly Outstanding.. Thank you for that.. Big lump in throat and a heart near bursting with PRIDE.. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lancedeangers1 287 Posted May 10, 2013 Share Posted May 10, 2013 Applause as ever my friend. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.