Grain Valley News
  • Home
  • About
    • Submit Your News
    • Contact
  • News
    • Online Puzzles
  • Community
    • Events Calendar
    • 2022 Garage Sale Directory
    • Holiday Lights Contest
    • Parade
  • Job Board
  • Support
    • Advertise
    • Become A Sustaining Member
  • Home
  • About
    • Submit Your News
    • Contact
  • News
    • Online Puzzles
  • Community
    • Events Calendar
    • 2022 Garage Sale Directory
    • Holiday Lights Contest
    • Parade
  • Job Board
  • Support
    • Advertise
    • Become A Sustaining Member








​news

Wayne's World:  Boundaries, Borders, and Kingdoms

2/6/2020

 
Picture
by Wayne Geiger
​     I lived in Miami in 1972. Although I was very young, I do remember that the year was pretty historic for our community. It was because of the Miami Dolphins.
     You’re probably chuckling, but back in the day, the Dolphins were the team to beat. But, in 1972, nobody did. They went undefeated—all the way through the Super Bowl. It was a memorable time.
     I remember the electricity and excitement of that season and the thrill of winning the Super Bowl. In our neighborhood, after the game, people ran outside to celebrate. Most of them wearing Dolphins paraphernalia. Our neighbors were beeping car horns and celebrating loudly. My house, friends, community, and city celebrated triumphantly.
     My wife and I have always chosen to bloom where we’ve been planted and supported the teams in the cities where we lived. That meant, when we moved to New Orleans in 1990, we supported the New Orleans Saints. Of course, in the ‘90’s, the Saints struggled. But it wasn’t about the team, it was about the community.
     In 2001, we moved to Kansas City and instantly became Chiefs fans. We weren’t born in Kansas City, we were adopted. When I arrived at my office at KLJC radio, one of the gifts they presented me with was a Chiefs coffee cup. I was expected to be a Chief and I was proud to be part of the family.
     The move to the Kansas City metro in 2001 was interesting. We had never lived in city that had a “border”. Working on the morning show at KLJC, I had to learn how to say strange phrases like, “the Kansas side” or “the Missouri side” and memorize two area codes, 816 and 913. It took a little getting used to.
     In those early days, it was new and fun! When the kids were little and riding in the car, we loved to tell them, “We’re about to cross the state line!” It was a new experience for us.
     Although most of the metro supported the Chiefs, one of the things that I found fascinating was that people had strong emotions about rival college teams. It became very clear to me early on that either you were a Tiger or a Jayhawk. I found out really quick that, to some, “Them was fightin’ words.”
     Some people I met were alumni and had a dog in the fight. But others, just chose to support the team because of where they were located on an unseen boundary. Some lived in a house divided.
     Although all Americans, it was a line that divided states, communities, and affections. For some, it just good fun. To others, it was very serious. It made me wonder, “What is it about boundaries and borders that unites or divides people? Why is it that some things bring us together and other things drive us apart?
     I don’t support the Dolphins or the Saints any longer. I am a Chiefs fan and part of the kingdom. The year 2020 will go down as a remarkable year for our city.
     Before the Super Bowl, it was exciting to drive around town. I would smile when I saw the promotional signs in people’s yards supporting the Chiefs. I enjoyed seeing people proudly display their red jerseys (most #15). Everybody was talking about the Chiefs road to the Super Bowl! This could be our year.
     During the game, I’ve got to admit, I was one of the doubters. For most of the second half, I chose to accept the inevitable. I sat in a defeated, sullen state and uttered phrases like, “Well, we did well this season, but it just isn’t our year” and “We needed to experience this for next year.” It was the very reason I did not want to accept an invitation to watch the game at someone’s home. Although I try not to allow football games to control my emotions, sometimes, they do. I was glad to be home.
     I wasn’t prepared for that unbelievable fourth quarter. In the back of my mind, I kept hearing Mahomes say, “Everyone knows KC’s on the rise, but what they don’t know is, we’re just getting started,” but I didn’t believe. I wanted to believe, but the evidence was overwhelming. I needed to protect my heart.
     But then, something happened. A switch was turned on. In typical, Chiefs-like fashion, they did what they do best. The sleeping giant awakened, and the lion roared. The Chiefs believed, dug deep, and together, as one, they fought to win.
     The crowd in Miami began to believe too. The sound of the tomahawk chop chant in Miami was thrilling and emotional. The people in the Power and Light District also believed and cheered their team to victory.
     When the clock ticked to 00, my mouth was agape, and I was in unbelief. Phrases like, “We’re Super Bowl champs,” “We did it,” and “I can’t believe it” kept pouring from my mouth. The sound of fireworks outside was a wonderful crescendo to an emotional rollercoaster. The dried up well flowed with water once again. Some of the moisture found its way into Coach Reid’s eyes.
     Having a Super Bowl champion team in Kansas City—again—ignited and unified our city. Putting aside our petty differences, we all celebrated being a part of the Chiefs Kingdom. We threw a huge party and even the kids were granted with a Red Snow Day in the Valley. The thrill of community is alive and well in Kansas City.
     The experience reminded me of a greater, coming, eternal kingdom. It’s a kingdom that believers in Jesus have been waiting for for a very long time. But one day, the return of the King will usher in the establishment of His eternal kingdom where peace and righteousness will dwell.
     I love one of the final pictures of the church in Revelation 7:9 which says that there will be, “a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne.” The Lord is clear that in heaven, there are no barriers and no borders. We will all be one. And we all celebrate one color: red, the color of perfect sacrifice and selfless love.
     It doesn’t matter where you were born, where you’ve lived, or what you’ve done. You’re invited to be part of this kingdom. And oh, there will be a party like you’ve never seen before.
 
Wayne Geiger is the Pastor of First Baptist Grain Valley, an Adjunct Associate Professor of Speech, and freelance writer.
 
 

Comments are closed.

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    Burton Kelso
    Business
    Cathy Allie
    Celebrations & Transitions
    Census
    City Of Grain Valley
    Columnists
    Community Profile
    Covid19
    Covid-19
    Economic-development
    Education
    Elections
    Financial-health
    Fitness
    Food Inspections
    Good News
    Good-news
    Grain-valley-assistance-council
    Grain-valley-fair
    Grain Valley Historical Society
    Grain-valley-partnership
    Grain Valley Schools
    Health And Fitness
    Health-and-fitness
    Home And Garden
    Jackson County
    Ld
    Local News
    Looking Back
    Lorne-meinershagen
    Missouri House Of Representatives
    Missouri Senate
    Musings From The Middle
    Neighborhood View
    On The Job
    Pets
    Police Blotter
    Quick-news
    Rdn
    Recreation
    Sally-whitaker
    Seniors
    Senior-send-off
    Sports
    Technology
    Tracey Shaffer
    Transportation
    University Of Missouri Extension
    Waynes-world

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018

Grain Valley News

Grain Valley News is a free community news source published weekly online. 
(c) 2022 Grain Valley News

Contact Us

PO Box 2972
​Grain Valley MO 64029

Privacy Policy
Picture