Many people have been inspired by the example of Rob Burrow, the brilliant rugby league player who died of motor neurone disease this week at the age of 41. Rob defied the odds, living for 4½ years with the disease and using that time to increase awareness of MND whilst raising over £15 million for the Motor Neurone Disease Association.
In his last message released this week, recorded with automated voice technology, he said this: ‘Whatever your personal battle is, be brave and face it. Every single day is precious. Don’t waste a moment. In a world full of adversity, we must still dare to dream.’
When Rob spoke of daring to dream, I sense that he was talking not merely about wishful thinking, but that he meant something closer to hope in the Christian tradition: desiring something with the expectation of achieving it. Daring to dream, in that sense, carries with it the transformative power of hope, allowing the dreamer to face challenges with courage, to find purpose in adversity, and to extend life and love to others.
Duncan McCall
