CW Weekly Devotional - "Yabbo Dabo Doo #2" > Clemson Wesley

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Tuesday, December 02, 2008

CW Weekly Devotional - "Yabbo Dabo Doo #2"
By laneglaze @ 4:56 PM :: 1214 Views :: 1 Comments ::

My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior
for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
Luke 1:46b-49, NRSV

It has been seven weeks since I penned my first remarks about Clemson's football coaching change, one that I entitled "Yabbo-Dabo-doo!" Since then, much has changed around Tigertown. Phrases like "Yabba-Dabo-doo" and "I'm All In" can now be found on placards, t-shirts and other souvenirs all around town. The once gloomy, pessimistic mood of mid-October has dissipated and, despite the worsening economy and weather, a cheerful, optimistic mood rules the day. Clemson, known for its culture of positivism, is once again a hope-filled place. In this season of "Change We Can Believe In," all credit must be given to a bold yet humble 39 year-old man, Dabo Swinney.

As I have written on numerous occasions through these devotionals, many of my best childhood memories involved family outings to watch the Tigers play. I remember sliding down the Hill as a little boy when nobody used to sit there. I remember trekking over to Jervey at least once a fall to visit my dad's former coach, Frank Howard. I was there for The Catch in '77, The Punch in '78 and The Championship in '81. My childhood was filled with many blessings, and cheering for the Tigers alongside my parents and brothers was one of them. And even though Clemson didn't always win, they always played hard. They always represented Clemson well. They were My Team.

Years later, when I moved to Clemson to serve as a Campus Minister in 2001, so much had changed. Clemson football, like so many other programs around the country, had become big business. To me, the Tigers played more like a professional team than one filled with exuberant, emotional 20 year-olds. On too many occasions the team would disappear for a quarter, a half or even an entire game. Unexplainable, disappointing losses would follow spectacular wins. Growing increasingly disengaged and disinterested, I longed for the days when, whether win or lose, I knew that My Team would play hard...when My Team would represent well, week in and week out.

Thanks to Dabo Swinney, my love for the Tigers has been rekindled over these last seven weeks. For the first time in a long time, I have felt like I could call the group of players on the field My Team. And while I know that Clemson is still a big-time program where winning is almost everything, the administration's decision to hire Swinney has given me hope that things other than the almighty dollar are still at work here on this campus. I am grateful to know that Dabo and Kathleen will be representing Clemson to the rest of the world. The school and the community could not have selected two better ambassadors.

While most in Clemson are now focused on the upcoming Bowl Season, preachers like me are focused on another season that started two days ago: Advent, the four week season of preparation and expectation of the coming of Christ into our lives and world. For me, Dabo's story reminds me of Mary's, the mother of Jesus. From humble and challenging beginnings, the most unlikely person is lifted up by God for the opportunity and job of a lifetime. Yesterday, Dabo's opening words at the press conference to announce his hiring reminded me of Mary's famous words after she said "yes" to the mission that God had for her. Dabo's "Magnificat" not only brought tears to his eyes, but to mine and many others as well.

Yes, Dabo and Kathleen, from now on all generations will call you blessed, as you've known for quite some time. May God continue to use you both to be an even greater blessing to others in the years to come.

All in,
lane

PS - Larry Williams, beat writer for Clemson and (I'm proud to say) a member of the church that I serve, did a great job of sharing the Swinneys' inspiring story in "Against All Odds" published last week. See http://clemson.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=882281 for a copy.

Rev. C. Lane Glaze
Director - Clemson Wesley Foundation
Campus Minister - Clemson UMC
PO Box 1703 Clemson SC 29633
864-207-9135 (c) or 864-654-5547 (o)
www.clemsonwesley.com

Feel free to forward this email to a friend. The Clemson Wesley Weekly Devotional is a ministry of the Clemson Wesley Foundation, the United Methodist Church’s ministry to students on the campus of Clemson University. The purpose of this email is to look at issues relevant to the life of Clemson students through the lens of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If you would like your name added to this list, email Rev. Lane Glaze at glaze@clemson.edu.

All in,

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