"My summer has been filled to overflowing in Washington, DC, and marked by several highlights. For a section of the summer, my biggest obsession was undoubtedly football … I mean soccer … I mean World Cup. I love everything about World Cup. I love—for better or for worse—that Africa finally hosted one of the biggest tournaments in the world. I love the hype, the excitement, the crazy fans, the spectacular stories, the drama of red cards, the killer penalty shots, and the joy of players and fans when their dreams come to fruition. World Cup was glorious. World Cup had the world falling before their television sets.
"And then there’s my other obsession. My summer has also been filled with politi
cs and advocacy, interning at the MCC Washington Office. I’ve been engrossed in understanding the world of politics, working groups, Hill visits and research on multiple domestic issues. I love the fast pace, the dedication and passion of the faith-based community, the collaboration of faith-based and church advocacy groups, the constant flow of coffee and unquestionably the people I’ve had the pleasure of working with at the office.
"And then there’s my other obsession. My summer has also been filled with politi
cs and advocacy, interning at the MCC Washington Office. I’ve been engrossed in understanding the world of politics, working groups, Hill visits and research on multiple domestic issues. I love the fast pace, the dedication and passion of the faith-based community, the collaboration of faith-based and church advocacy groups, the constant flow of coffee and unquestionably the people I’ve had the pleasure of working with at the office."My two summer obsessions bring to light many of my Mennonite values. Soccer is often called “the beautiful game.” It‘s beautiful to watch the teamwork and collaboration involved and the higher the stakes, the more collaboration and community is formed.
"It’s difficult to call advocacy beautiful like soccer. In general, politics offend my Mennonite sensitivities, which constantly crave collaboration. Yet advocacy brings other Mennonite values to fruition—just
ice and peace for all—requiring me to value it. Advocacy—like soccer—doesn’t ever end. There’s always more work, more training, and more advocating. Watching people working with constant and undying dedication to justice puts me to shame. I’ve witnessed collaboration and compromise watching churches and faith-based groups work together, which gives me hope that civility exists in the political world.
ice and peace for all—requiring me to value it. Advocacy—like soccer—doesn’t ever end. There’s always more work, more training, and more advocating. Watching people working with constant and undying dedication to justice puts me to shame. I’ve witnessed collaboration and compromise watching churches and faith-based groups work together, which gives me hope that civility exists in the political world."My inner Mennonite is acutely aware that both advocacy and soccer can divide people. Yet, at the end of the World Cup final (and all 13 yellow cards) I’m still friends with Spanish fans even if I was passionately cheering on Holland. At the end of the day, in advocacy, we can all agree that we’re trying to make the world a better place even if we differ on the execution of that goal. I love the exuberant outcome at the end of a soccer game and I love the common interests and values we can find in advocacy.
"Perhaps World Cup can teach us acceptance, forgiveness, and how to let a game be a game. Perhaps advocacy can teach us patience, perseverance, compromise, acting out our faith. There are so many lessons to be found in ordinary and extraordinary places, even in our summer obsessions."
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