Lambeau Field, December 11, 1988. Tim Kritter and I had a once in a lifetime opportunity handed to us by a Jenny Schienle---Two sideline passes to a Packer Game at Lambeau Field. The catch, pick up highlight film from a Green Bay TV station and deliver it to Madison in time for a 10:35 PM post game show. Jenny and her sister Jill had handled this chore all season and the cold weather, not the Packer's 2 wins and 12 losses, broke their spirit for one more mission. Two decades later I still can't believe we had such a gift. The photos are our proof that the dream was real.
Yesterday Cathy discovered the long misplaced photos. They were safe and sound in the bottom of a chest of photos and keepsakes. While watching the 2007 version of the Green Bay Packers, I flipped through the two dozen pictures. What I noticed in one picture didn't shock me. I felt the brush of angel wings on my neck.
John Blaha is the House Mentor at The Aaron House. I met John in January 2005. I took a seat next to him and noticed a huge diamond filled Green Bay Packer Super Bowl XXXI ring on his finger. "Who is this guy?" I wondered. Definitely a fan, possibly an office worker, certainly not a player. He wouldn't pass for even a kicker. The opportunity to ask about the ring didn't present itself until several weeks later. Before I knew the story Aaron was home and his path crossed with John's. Aaron noticed the diamond G and we pondered what the story might be. Aaron never spoke to John, but he did see him. I eventually asked about the ring
From 1976 through 1996, John was a volunteer, assistant equipment manager with the Green Bay Packers. Folding towels, cleaning lockers, and retrieving the kick-off tee were some of John's chores. He had an inside view of the Green Bay Packers from the lowest days of their history to the top of the football world. John has a more impressive background outside of his "service work" for the Packers. His career made John the perfect person for the House Mentor position. We are blessed to have his gentle spirit leading the student-residents.
On December 11, 1988, John was on the sidelines at Lambeau Field. Wearing a Packer stocking cap, a Packer jacket, green pants, and white shoes, John walked in to the view finder behind Tim Kritter just as I snapped the picture to commemorate our dream come true. Tim is a great friend to me, to our family, to Aaron, and a special supporter of the Aaron House project. Here we were in the most unlikely of places, two decades ago, for an instant just feet apart. Today we are connected through Aaron's life sharing our insights to make The Aaron House work for some people who, like Aaron, were little boys in 1988.
God connects people in fascinating ways. You never know when you are in the presence of angels.
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