mas·cot

/ˈmasˌkät,ˈmasˌkət/

A mascot is a person, animal, or object claimed by a team or organization as an official symbol for public identification. Sometimes, a mascot is chosen to represent attributes or characteristics the team would like to exemplify.

various online dictionaries

But not always. Check these out:

• The Fighting Okra (Delta State).
• The Fighting Pickle (UNCSA)
• Kernel Cobb (Concordia College)
• Sammy the Banana Slug (UC Santa Cruz)
• Baby Cakes, the controversial replacement for the beloved Boudreaux the Nutria (former minor league baseball team in New Orleans)

Chew on those for a minute.

Come Alongside Ministries’ Mascots

I found my RV mascots while I was cleaning out my house and re-homing most of my worldly possessions.

The huge bin filled with my children’s collection of Beanie Babies was one of the last things to go in my getting-ready-to-live-in-a-van purge. I knew I couldn’t keep them all, but I pulled out a couple of my favorites to save (okay, I pulled out eight). I solicited friends’ votes for which one should go with me in the RV.

The pelican was the overwhelming favorite among my Louisiana voters. But I loved the green frog. And who could resist that baboon with all the bright colors on his face and backside?

I tried to eliminate two of the candidates, but someone mentioned there was no official numerical limit on mascots. Mrs. Baboon, Mr. Frog, and Mr. Pelican were all in for an adventure!

How to Choose a Mascot Name

The official Beanie Baby names were cute, but new adventures call for new names.

Preferably punny names. Punny AND Biblical. Surely that’s a thing?

Surely. Hmmm.

Surely, goodness and mercy will follow me all the days for my life.

Psalm 23:6 (ESV)

You’ll hear more from Psalm 23 if you continue to follow my blog, but for the all-important purpose of mascot naming, three words jumped out:

• Surely.
• Goodness.
• Mercy.

They follow me every day. Just like my mascots!

Sounds like a good thing for someone striking out in an RV to remember. I’d never survive, much less thrive, living on the road in 80 square feet of space without God’s continuous presence. Without reminders of Him and His ways, I’d most certainly get discouraged and lose hope.

Surely.

God is reliable. He is faithful. He is unchanging. He is sure.

Goodness.

God is good. Everything He has created is good. His plans are good. His ways are good.

Mercy.

I mess up. I don’t have a good sense of direction. Nevertheless, I’ve chosen a lifestyle that involves traveling many unfamiliar roads. I make wrong turns. A lot. Literally, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. I need God’s mercy–for myself and for others.

Punning it up.

I’d chosen my mascots, and knew the traits I wanted them to exemplify. I even had a Bible verse. All that was missing was the puns.

• The colorful baboon became Shirley. It seemed appropriate.
• The little green frog became Gud Ness (“Gud” said with frog-like enunciation, and “Ness” because I like to think he’s from Loch Ness)
• The pelican became Murray C.

Official Mascots.

My mascots are official. They are both punny and biblical–and probably somewhat frivolous. But for me, they are visual reminders. Like a mascot does for the fans of its team, Shirley, Gud Ness, and Murray C. remind me of who I identify with. They represent attributes I want to exemplify as I travel in Amazing Grace (more on the van’s name in a future post).

I will follow God. His goodness and mercy will surely follow me. Go Team!

If you know any strange mascots — or if you have chosen your own life mascots, share in the comments.