Howdy! - Pt 1

Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’ A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:33-35 ESV).

HOWDY! That is the first part of any address to Aggies. Later this week it will be my honor and privilege to be a part of the Parker County Aggie Club. I will be speaking to the group. Some of those in attendance will be former students, parents of present students, and others who hold a special place for all things Aggie. Those of you who know me at all also know that my affinity for Texas A&M goes well beyond having graduated from there. I’ve always thought it a bit interesting that other colleges and universities classify their graduates as “alumni”; and, we are “former students.” It speaks to the tradition and loyalty that is forever ours as we join the ranks of thousands who bear the name of “Aggie.” Little did I know when I first began in 1967 that it would be the beginning of a life-long love; in fact, my first two weeks in the corps might have communicated just the opposite! I had no idea I could be called so many things, none of them my given name in such a short period of time, while learning how to drill. However, I learned something else in those early days. It was embodied in our school song, The Spirit of Aggieland. It was originally written as a poem by Marvin H. Mimms while he was a student at Texas A&M in 1925. Richard J. Dunn, the director of the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band at the time, composed the music. The first stanza goes: 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. Many people describe Texas A&M University as having a unique school spirit that "From the outside looking in, you can't understand it. And from the inside looking out, you can't explain it." I can personally relate to the truth of that. As I think more about it, I can also say there ought to be at least an equal amount of unique love and loyalty within the church. For the next few days we’ll look at some of the Aggie traditions and use them as a means of reminding us to do that which we are called as believers. Today the reminder comes in the familiar Aggie greeting, “Howdy.” It is much more than a greeting within the Aggie family. It is a pledge of love, honor, and respect. Should we do any less for our spiritual family?