December 26, 2008
Augie and I have one thing we do together every year. We watch a baseball game. When the Red Sox comes to the Bay Area, Augie is always gracious to my Boston loyalty and we sit through a day game with the A’s at the Coliseum—it’s warmer. When Alex was younger, he would come with his Dad. More recently, it’s only been just Augie and me—two old guys. While I am still passionate about my Red Sox and Augie his A’s, we are now more interested in just the idea of watching a game. The last game we were at was a Giants game in SF playing some team that I don’t remember now. It’s true that playing the game is more important than winning or losing.
As a pastor to another one, I wanted to see if there were any references in the Bible about playing ball. Lo, and behold, there is one reference in Isaiah 22:17-18 when God was about to do something quite mean to a self-seeking official. It reads: “The Lord is about to hurl you away violently, my fellow. He will seize firm hold on you, whirl you round and round, and throw you like a ball into the wide land.” Sounds to me that God knows something about baseball and is a wind-up pitcher too! But when Augie plays ball and specifically basketball, he is neither violent or a “self-seeking official.” In fact, Augie is just the opposite.
One of Augie’s greatest gifts is that he is a peacemaker who unites people together into one cohesive team. He is concern for others rather than himself. When ministers come into the ABC, Augie is the first to welcome them. He reassures them that the MMBB will always watch over their interest. In numerous denominational occasions, Augie would be the one who thinks clearly through conflicts and disagreements and offers resolution and reconciliation. He brings a Christ-like peace to every situation that enables everyone to remain united together even in the midst of problems. People from all backgrounds, racial/ethnic groups, and different areas of the country, all trust Augie for his peacemaking vision. For Augie, when he has the basketball in his hands, he would pass it to others so that they can play too.
We know that Augie has a heart for those who have so little in our sometimes hard, insensitive, and competitive society. He is first to house the homeless, clothe the naked, feed the hungry, visit the sick, welcome the stranger, immigrant, refugee, and alien into his home and into the Christian community. Augie knows very well that what he does to the least of these, he has done so to the Lord himself. Augie doesn’t hog the basketball so that he can make that basket himself, but rather he shares the ball so that others can play the game as well. Augie is always passing the ball not that he’s irresponsible but rather, he believes everyone should have the chance to play.
It’s been a personal joy for me to know a ball-passer like Augie who brings people together and unites people from a variety of backgrounds to come and play a pick-up game as American Baptists. And when this game is happening, it’s never about who’s winning or losing, but it has always been the truth that everyone gets a chance to get the ball to pass to someone else and perhaps sometimes to take a shot and make a basket.
May God continue to bless you, Augie as you celebrate your 50th birthday. Just like there’s always a new season in the NBA for the Warriors next year and spring training is coming soon for baseball, may you continue to pass the ball to everyone who wants to play. I look forward to our next baseball game in 2009. May God, the great ball-passer give you his peace always.
Don Ng, 12/26/2008