Have you heard of the Hayne Plane? It has recently trended around the world, but in particular in Sydney, Australia after Jarryd Hayne, former Rugby League player, made the final 53 man team for the San Francisos 49ers. And since it happened, it has been one of the top stories for almost every news outlet in Australia.
My favourite article has been one by Matt Clearly from the Guardian, which you can read here, but the amount of ink spilt on this topic, or perhaps the modern metaphor is the number of fingerprints typed off covering Jarryd Hayne’s life, career and sporting ability is extraordinary. The social, cultural, and financial reasons he left Australia has been analysed; the sociological, psychological and physiological difference between the sports has been discussed, and there has generally been a complete fascination with every step of the entire process. But one aspect has received very little ‘air time’, and that is his religious beliefs.
Jarryd Hayne has kept the fact that he is a Christian no secret at all . At every press conference he refers to it – in one article it was written about in this way:
“Hayne is thankful to many people for getting him this close to an NFL contract, but there was one individual who received the most recognition. “First and foremost, I want to thank God,” Hayne started, before making so many references to the man upstairs you could almost have mistaken the event for the Grammys”.
He is humble and well aware of the doctrine of sin and the way it applies to his own life as another article describes it:
“I’m the worst Christian I know,” Hayne said on Tuesday at a media conference confirming the San Francisco 49ers had secured him as an undrafted free agent. “I’m not perfect. I struggle with sin and temptation all the time. For me, they are the key areas where I want to improve as well. They’re part of that journey now. It’s not just about playing in the NFL. Christ comes before everything. That is why, when you make those decisions, if you don’t have Him to lean on or focus on, there’s going to be a lot of dark days over there. It won’t last. I won’t last.”
While in America such professions of faith may not be such a big deal, in Australia, it is. Beliefs are very rarely mentioned, or reported on, except to criticise, mock or laugh at (which is in part why we started this site to laugh AS Christians not AT Christians). Amazingly for a guy who could go anywhere, do anything, and is probably booked out with events and training sessions for the rest of the year (if not the decade) he still made time for his Bible reading as this article points out (he was known for his hard work in training and his daily time with the Lord out of training).
Jarryd Hayne is an inspiration to thousands, if not millions, and will now be known all over America, if not the world. For a man who was the number one in his chosen sport, moved countries, took up a new sport, found he was just as good at it, made the final selection, and is now earning anywhere up to $2 million dollars what does he have to say about it: He thanks God. Here is his announcement tweet.
So why is this story appearing on Christian Funny Pictures? Firstly because I am a fanboy as well. I have been swept up with the trending hashtag #HaynePlane and wish him well. Secondly, because he is a Christian who will face sin, temptation and persecution for what he does and what he doesn’t do, perhaps more so than the rest of us as he is in the public spotlight, and he needs our prayers. Thirdly, because the funny pictures about him are already starting. Some are lighthearted, but some will come that laugh, mock and attack him for his trust in Jesus. Let us pray that when that time comes, he will hold firm to his belief that “Christ comes before everything”.
