This is the part that Michelle doesn’t get about my playing sports. I have been agonizing all weekend about what I could have done differently in the Lavabo Bowl so that we could have won. I keep running that last INT in the redzone over and over again…
For those who weren’t there, I knew what I was doing when I threw the ball. The play call was actually a QB draw, and the run was there. But as I started to make my dash, I saw Patrick Bolt running across the middle with a much shorter player (everyone is shorter than Patrick) draped all over him. My quick thought was “a pass interference penalty!” It will stop the clock and give us a first down—I didn’t think about the first down, but DID think about the penalty and the clock stopping. So, I lobbed a pass over toward Patrick. Unfortunately, the pass was slightly behind Patrick, and he was unable to jump with the 165 lb. linebacker on his back. The ball sailed over his head and into the hands of the safety.
In hindsight, if I would have tucked the ball as originally planned, I would have picked up at least 5-7 yards and maybe even scored. We could have called a timeout and would have had three shots at the end zone with about 30 seconds left. In retrospect, I should have never thrown that ball. Yes, we should have got the call. Yes, Nashotah House’s 2-point conversion (which put them up by one point) was short. But, I should have never thrown that ball. It’s one of the golden rules of red zone offense – never throw the ball up for grabs in the middle of the field. Very few good things can happen, and many things can go wrong.
The good news about this obsessing that I do—I will be scheming all year on how we can beat Nashotah House next year.
For the second straight year, the Nashotah House Black Monks defeated the Seabury Saints. This year's matchup was the closest game since I have been here. NH won 22-21. The game winning 2-pt conversion was disputed. The play happened right in front of me, and I thought the ball carrier was short (the ball carrier actually concurred--he was doubtful that he got in). Still, we had to give the Black Monks credit. They made big plays when they needed to, and we didn't.
It was a great game, but I don't want to overlook what I saw as a sign of the kingdom. The genuine and mutually life-affirming fellowship that happened after the game and before the game in the chapel was a powerful witness to God's presence among us as the church. In these times, following the discernments after the Windsor Report, such opportunities for fellowship are invaluable.
It was in a word, "perfect" (even if we lost).
Below is the sermon that I preached prior to the game. The title of the homily is, "Be Perfect."
This is a big day, and I feel honored to be able to bring the word of God to this most impressive assembly. In fact, because I knew I would be preaching, I invested an extra two hours of research into this sermon—two hours more than I usually put in. So what if I did my research on a Wednesday night... with some friends... at the Century 12 Cineplex... with a coke... and popcorn? Research is research.
For my “research” I saw the new Peter Berg film, “Friday Night Lights,” which is an adaptation of H.G. Bissinger’s exposé of High School football in the football-obsessed town of Odessa, Texas. In Odessa, the Permian Panthers High School football team was everything, and I mean EVERYTHING. On Friday evenings—the night of the games—every store, gas station, and diner was closed up with hand painted signs hanging in the windows, “Gone to the game.” Everyone went to sit under the Friday night lights, and everyone knew their team backward and forward. The coach and players were celebrities, receiving free food and services throughout the fall season... as long as they won. They received the praise of those on T.V. and radio... as long as they won. Folks in Odessa treated the team and the coach like gods... as long as they won. You see, beyond high school football, Odessa cared about only one other thing—winning. Coming in second was not good enough. The towns people would settle for nothing less than a season of perfection, which meant for them the State 5A High School Football championship.
Cut to the final scene in the championship game. The Panthers are getting whooped by a bigger, faster, and meaner team from Dallas. Obviously, the coach and players are stunned—shell-shocked from the events of the first half. They are intimidated and defeated. The odds are stacked against them. But their coach, Gary Gaines, has one last word for them—a quite unexpected word, “perfection.” He says to his deflated team, “Gentlemen, go out there and be perfect.” The already bewildered players look even more confused. The coach goes on to give a rousing speech in which he deconstructs and redefines perfection as they know it. Perfection, coach Gaines declares, is not about winning or losing. It’s not about the score of the game. For him, perfection means that they go out there and leave every ounce of their heart and soul on that field so that they can look their friends and families in the eye and say without a doubt, “I gave it my absolute best.” Perfection, he continues, is when you play with joy and love in your heart for those around you—your teammates, coaches, and family. And if they can accomplish this, if they can play the rest of the game with all of their heart, soul, and might, then, says coach Gaines, “regardless of the outcome, to me you will be perfect.”
Jesus offers the church and us similar words with a different understanding of perfection. He says, “You have heard it said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Perfection for Jesus is not about who is right or wrong about this issue or that. It is not about mistake free holy living. It is not about which church you attend, what kind of liturgy you practice, or which interpretation of the bible you hold to. Perfection is all about loving, and loving the hard way. The kind of love that is shocking not only in its display, but even more so in its object. Love the one who hates you. Love your enemy. Love the one who spits in your face, the one who would have you exiled, the one who cares not for your well being or the welfare of your loved ones. The one who looks across the table, points a finger at you and says that what you stand for is unequivocally and intolerably wrong. Love that one, and you will be perfect. And friends, judging from the signs of the times, it would seem that there will be plenty of opportunity for the saints to be perfect.
If I had a prayer for the church today it would be this. Not that everyone would agree with one another, or that everyone would be orthodox, heterodox, liberal, or conservative. No, I would ask that the church would do as the great Shema commands us in Deuteronomy. That we would love the LORD God with all of our hearts, and all of our souls, and with all of our might, regardless of where that left us on “the issues.” Because it’s not about winning or losing, it’s not about being right or wrong, and today it’s not even about on which side of the ball you lineup. It’s about loving God and loving each other with everything that we have. THAT brothers and sisters IS PERFECTION. And thanks be to God that everything is not left up to us, but it is God who shows perfect love in Jesus Christ.
The Seabury Saints broke their six game losing streak today, and it came with a little help from our friends. The Saints joined forces with the Amish Jihad (the intramural team from Garrett) to defeat Foster-Walker, 20-0.
It was a very interesting game. We actually had enough players to field two full teams. So we divided up. The first seven, on which I was the QB, started on offense. The second seven was on defense. Then we switched up after the first series. So both seven-person teams ended up playing equal amounts of offense and defense. It meant that everyone had fresh legs.
It was a dominant performance, and we had a lot of fun too.
The annual Lavabo Bowl--the Nashotah House vs. Seabury football game--is this Saturday. I'm not quite sure what our team looks like. We have had three practices, and on each practice we had a different team. Should be interesting.
Go Saints!
As part of a lunch celebration, the interim dean, David Bowman, presented me with a gift. It was a leather bound Book of Common Prayer and hymnal with my name on the cover. I didn't realize it at the time, but it was signed by my colleagues. The inscription reads:
"October 2004
To Frank Yamada -
scholar, colleague, and freind--in celebration of the successful defense of your dissertation.
Your Seabury Colleagues"
Of course, after the inscription, each of my colleagues signed it. This is truly great gift. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
A little background to this gift...I had made a decision a couple years back that I would not purchase any of my chapel books until I knew that I was staying at Seabury. The board of trustees voted a couple years back to move me to tenure track, making this a possibility. I decided that I would not allow myself to purchase my own set of chapel books--something that I have wanted to do for a long time--until I defended.
I had told this story to a couple of my colleagues. This is why a leather bound BCP has special significance. That it comes from my colleagues and is signed by all of them makes this gift special.
I found out the identity of the shrine creators last night. I don't want to mention names (Jennifer, Kassinda, Shana, and Jenni), but all of you, and all who left their offerings, "You Rock!!!"
I am now thinking more about the proper way to take it down. I have consumed some of the sweeter offerings. But some of the others, I have no clue as to what to do with them. I would hate to desecrate the holy things.
I love to watch postseason Major League Baseball. The Dodgers are disappointing me right now. I must admit, however, that I like watching the Yankees (yes the evil empire) in the playoffs and World Series. Why? Because they also find exiting ways to win. Last night was just another example. I also like to watch the Red Sox. My reason for this, however, is because somehow Boston always finds a way to lose in tragic fashion.
So I am in the airport, expecting just to see Michelle and to have a quiet ride home. I meet her in the airport. Michelle is giggling, and she can't stop. The kids are with her (surprise #1).
She has a cell phone that I don't recognize. She says she borrowed it, but won't tell me to whom it belongs. I look at the phone. There is no way that we can afford the kind of plan that goes along with that phone. It ended up being the driver’s phone...see below (surprise #2).
I go outside and find out that Seabury hired a huge stretch limo to take me home. This limo was over-the-top. There was a TV, full bar with neon lights, a basket full of cheeses and champagne, and four smiling Yamadas (surprise #3).
I have gone from being overwhelmed with gratitude to being dumbfounded. This is just too much.
I feel like I’ve won the lottery...
-I successfully defended my diss., and I actually had fun
-I officially won my fantasy baseball league
-I met Da Coach, Mike Ditka, in Newark International Airport. He was on the same plane, and he was kind enough to sign autographs for Stephen and Adam.
-And now this...
Completely outrageous. All in all a pretty eventful day.
"Sustained"
Yes, it happened. I successfully defended my dissertation. I actually had fun in my defense. The PTS faculty and I had a very good and interesting discussion. A good friend who came to Princeton asked me how I feel. Truthfully, I am overwhelmed with gratitude.
Now it's time to party!
Almost time...
Here we go...
I have never missed a flight ever. I can't recall a time when I was even close. There is a first for everything, and it figures that this morning's flight to Newark, NJ would have to be the first time that I was close to missing a flight. No, I didn't miss it, but it was close.
For some odd reason that I have yet to figure out my alarm did not go off this morning. We were planning to leave for O'Hare at 6:00 a.m., which would have given me plenty of time for my 8:00 a.m. flight. I woke up out of a deep sleep this morning and turned to look at the clock...6:39. Yikes! I don't think I have ever seen three Yamadas move that fast (Stephen is on a retreat this weekend).
Well, luckily or providentially, we hit all green lights up Golf and made it to the airport in record time. I flew through the self check-in, made it through security without incident, and ran to my gate. I actually had about 4 minutes to catch my breath before they called for the first boarding group.
I am now in Princeton at Erdman Hall--a renovated dormitory that PTS uses for continuing ed. visitors. After a Wawa sandwich (yes the name of the chain is "Wawa"), I am headed over to the Princeton Seminary library. I have a feeling that I am going to sleep deeply tonight.
The Seabury students have erected a shrine outside of my office. It went up late Wednesday evening I think. I would post a picture, but my digital camera is out of battery power.
There are two small tables with votives, incense, scripture passages, and various items. Among the offerings there are appropriately named candies such as Smarties, a Skor bar, Lifesavers, a Payday bar, Nerds, etc. There is a bar of Success Soap, a can of 7 Sisters of New Orleans Protection spray, a bottle of Lucky Prophet liquid incense, a lucky feather, rings, a zinger, and a bag of Cracker Jacks. There are so many other cool things.
Needless to say, I am overwhelmed by the thoughtfulness and creativity of our students. I leave knowing that people here have my back. That is a good feeling.
I will be posting this weekend, and I will try to get a post-defense notification out before I get on the plane back to Chicago.
Thanks again to all those who have expressed their best wishes, and who have let me know that they are praying, including the senior class and their timely card. I promise we will party when I get back!