June 24, 2013
Pastorgraphs: “A House Un-Divided”
There
are few households with as close loyalties between UCLA and Mississippi State
as ours. As improbable as it seems, the Bulldogs and Bruins are playing for the
College World Series Championship. First pitch in Game One is 5:00 PM Pacific
Time today. The first team to win two games takes the trophy back to either
Starkville or Westwood. If the Bulldogs win, it will be their first National
Championship in ANY sport. If UCLA wins, it will be their 109th.
This
year marks my 50th year as a Bulldog fan. The early 1960s were
exciting times to be a State fan, playing the likes of Adolph Rupp’s Kentucky
Wildcats and Bear Bryant’s Alabama Crimson Tide. That was when my older brother
Norman enrolled at Mississippi State and took me to my first college football
game in 1964 (MSU vs. Florida – Steve Spurrier was Florida’s quarterback). I
was hooked, and have remained so for half a century, although not as avidly as
in the past. (I’m mellowing in my old age.) I can now pull for UCLA and even
Ole Miss – when they are NOT playing the Bulldogs. Two brothers and most of my
nearest relatives attended State. For the record, I graduated from Delta State,
but always sided with the underdogs from Starkville who managed to eke out one
major upset a year that kept me a fan through some otherwise lackluster
seasons.
When
my brother-in law Kimo Shearin (photo) retired after twenty years as a
Paratrooper with the 82rd Airborne, jumping out of planes over Iraq and
Afghanistan, he fulfilled a lifelong dream and enrolled at UCLA, where he
graduated with honors, and is now completing his Master’s degree. Because Kimo
works part-time with the UCLA Athletic Department, I have been able to attend
UCLA games in football (at the Rose Bowl), basketball (John Wooden Classic),
and baseball (Jackie Robinson Field), as well as a Lady Bruin’s volleyball game
in which the daughter of my Yazoo City High School classmate, James “Mac”
McGraw, was the UCLA team captain (and best player).
Kimo
and I attended what we believed would be the ONLY game between our two favorite
schools ever (in any sport) back in December 2009. That’s when the photo was
taken. MSU was invited to play UCLA in the John Wooden Classic in Anaheim. No
way were we going to miss that! Highlight of that game was when we learned
99-year old Coach John Wooden was in the press box. What an honor to be in the
same arena with a living legend. The Bulldogs caught the Bruins on a bad rainy
day, and managed a win. Kimo and I survived that rivalry, and we will survive
this one, too.
So
when we sit down to watch the first pitch, we will be loyal to our teams, proud
that both these unlikely finalists have made it to the big stage in Omaha. UCLA
is scrappy, and can win games with only one or two runs. State has more gun
powder and great pitching, and has been able to “stay loose” amid the high
pressure of the College World Series. It should be fun to watch.
So
is there a spiritual side to this E-Vangel? Glad you asked! A couple weeks ago,
Anita’s sister Brenda sent a link to an inspiring story about the Bulldog
baseball team. It is the story of how Matt Jolley became the chaplain of the
MSU baseball team. You may read the story at this link: https://m.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10151670426954208. Matt’s journey of faith is quite inspiring in
itself. But how his persistence has led to a spiritual awakening among the
Bulldog team (first one or two players, then four, then eight and then the
coaches) is very uplifting. And no, I don’t think God has any favorites in this
series. I suspect a few prayers will be going up from the Bruin’s locker room,
too. But the story is worth reading.
So
regardless of the outcome, our divided house will stand. We are very proud of
our ties to Mississippi State and UCLA and the legacy both great institutions
have in our family.
Bless
you all, Bill Jenkins
From the
Quote Garden:
“Material possessions, winning
scores, and great reputations are meaningless in the eyes of the Lord, because
He knows what we really are and that is all that matters.”
~ John Wooden ~
~ John Wooden ~
Christ United Methodist Ministry
Center
“Christ
in the Heart of San Diego”
3295
Meade Avenue - San Diego, CA 92116 - (619) 284-9205
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