by Abigael Johnson
Confession time . . . I am part of a cult.
As the weather begins to cool and the days get shorter, that means one thing: football. I grew up in North Texas where football is a religion. Friday was high school football. Saturday was college football. Sunday (and Monday night) was professional football. Birthday parties, weddings, and even funerals had to be planned around this schedule.
Growing up in this culture, I fell in love with a school watching a 6-foot tall, 275 pound running back, named Ja’Mar Toombs, pound through defenders on the football field. That school was Texas A&M University, which brings me back to my confession: I am part of a cult.
I attended, and graduated from, Texas A&M. Before beginning classes, I attended a summer camp where they indoctrinated—sorry, I mean taught me—the traditions of Texas A&M and what it means to be an Aggie. One of the first things we learned were the lyrics of the school song, “The Spirit of Aggieland”:
Some may boast of prowess bold
Of the school they think so grand
But there’s a spirit can ne’er be told
It’s the Spirit of Aggieland
From Spirit of Aggieland, the alma mater of Texas A&M University
Original poem written by Marvin H. Mimms, Class of 1925
The song can be taught, but the Spirit of Aggieland is not something that can be described, hence the line “there’s a spirit can ne’er be told.” They share with the new Aggies, “From the outside looking in, you can’t understand it. And from the inside looking out, you can’t explain it.” Since my time there, I have experienced that spirit in more ways than I can count. There is just something special, something ineffable when two or more people get together with the Spirit of Aggieland inside them.
So far, this probably seems like an advertisement for Texas A&M, and it could be, but my relationship with my alma mater is more complicated than that. As an advocate for peace and non-violence, I wrestle with the military history of the school and that it sends more graduates to the military than any other non-service academy institution of higher learning. I oppose the harmful policies of the political leaders that have graduated from the school and the President who houses his official library on campus. I am disappointed by the leadership of the college so willingly complying with state bans on diversity, equity, and inclusion. The land of Aggieland, through the Morrill Act, was granted to the state after being stolen from Native communities. Just from these examples, you can see why my relationship with the school is complicated.
Despite the complications, when I meet someone who says they went to Texas A&M, something inside me brightens. I feel more alive and connected to the person. We could disagree on everything, have completely different backgrounds, and yet, we share something special. Something cuts through everything else and unites us.
Unfortunately, the beginning of football season is quickly followed by election season. There is a lot at stake in this election, perhaps more than any before, and I am having a hard time being around people who hold certain political views, especially when they claim to arrive at those views from the foundation of Christ’s teachings. I feel heartbroken, furious, and full of despair when I see the hate and harm being proposed by Christian politicians and then supported by people I love. I too want to ridicule the other side, call them “fake Christians,” and box them into an “other” category so that no part of me has to be associated with “them.” But then I think about Jesus.
“God proves his love for us in that while we were sinners Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8, NRSV). God’s love always comes first. God’s love broke through to me while I was battling an addiction and holding many of the same beliefs I know now are so harmful. God’s love always comes first, and it comes through the person of Jesus Christ. The way Jesus broke through the hatred and oppression during his life was allowing the love of God to flow through him to the people around him. He knew their brokenness, he knew their sins, but he loved first. If I am going to be a follower of Jesus, how do I follow his footsteps and love first?
Which brings me back to the Spirit of Aggieland. Yes, there are plenty of problematic aspects of my alma mater. There are plenty of problematic aspects of being human. I do the work of repentance and reparations for those harms done by me and done on my behalf. When I see those harms being done by other Christians, I should absolutely address it, but the love of God has to come first. Love is what cuts through hate.
So how do I love my neighbor whom I disagree with in this political season? I recognize the spirit or essence that is inside them. God’s image is in every single human being. The breath of God gives us life, and the love of God gives us purpose. There is no “us” versus “them”; some part of the Holy Divine resides in every one of “us” and “them.”
When I recognize the belovedness in the other, my heart brightens, my spirit lifts, and I feel more connected to the other person and humanity in general. I can love again and be a part of this problematic song called humanity.
