Lambeau Love

I was born in South Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  In order to get my birth certificate notarized, my parents first had to commit to the love of bowling, beer, and the Green Bay Packers.  

I carried the tradition forward, so my wife and 2 kiddos are all fans.  We watch the games in our living room - in jerseys.  We scare the dog as we jump around and yell at the TV.  We have a set of Packer player Russian Nesting Dolls.  We polka (not really).

That said, I‘m the only one of us that had ever seen a game at Lambeau… until an unusually large number of tickets were available after the Packers beat the Bears in the final game of the season to earn a home playoff game. 

We jumped on the opportunity to cross an item off of our family’s bucket list.  We bought tickets, spent 48 hours game planning our outfits in preparation for sub-zero temps, and road-tripped from Minnesota to the game just in time for the gates to open. 

The Andersons go to Lambeau

 

As residents of a neighboring state, we’re not used to being embraced for our loyalty to the Pack.  We often feel like a bit of a green-and-gold island in a sea of Viking purple. 

At Lambeau, it doesn’t matter if you’re short or tall, fat or skinny, attractive or not.  If you’re a Packer fan, you’re in.  I mean really in.  Strangers talk to you like you’re a long-lost friend.  You celebrate big plays with High 5s and hugs.  You console each other after bad calls or blown plays.  And, regardless of the game’s outcome, it’s hard to walk away without feeling like you’re part of the club – exactly as you are. 

 There is power in an accepting community. 

 I want to be a part of that kind of community every day.  One where we recognize we’re truly all on the same journey, where we’re rooting for (and helping) each other to succeed, and where we console and support each other when times are tough.    

Storyline has taught me how to help form a community that, for all practical purposes, fits that description.  When we recognize that our stories matter, that epic tales are marked by selfless desire and risk, and that pursuing stuff that matters is always worth the conflict that will come, we lay the foundation for some Lambeau-esque love. 

If you haven’t checked out Donald Miller yet, I encourage you to do so.  Your story needs telling and I, for one, am rooting for you.  You don’t even have to like the Packers.

(Miller is a Seahawks fan and we love him anyway)