My BIg Fat LBBC Blooper

If you’re in front of an audience long enough, you’ll say something that you will certainly regret. And if the audience is filled with friends, they will remind you of that embarrassing moment whenever they can.

It was the big 30th anniversary celebration at LBBC. Dave & Daisy Hepburn were the honored guests and speakers. The camp gym was filled to standing room only. During the main chapel service one of our former music directors began to play a song he wrote called, “The Together Song.” It was a beautiful and moving tune. And it was sung at the end of every camp session, invoking the tears of many a camper sad to depart.

So it was during this big celebration that I was introducing this moving song, known by everyone. I should have kept my mouth shut, as it needed no introduction. But instead of keeping quiet I felt the need to say something. In my small brain, I had two phrases in mind but I was not sure which I would say. “This next song really brought out the tears.” Or “This next song would really made you bawl.” But during a chapel service in front of 500+ people and our esteemed speakers, I said, “This next song really brings out the balls.”

It was at that moment that time stood still. I ran the tapes back over and over. I had a conversation with myself that went something like this:
“There’s no way you really just said that.”
“Yes you did, we all heard it.”
“I couldn’t have said that. That’s terrible.”
“You did say it. Just look at the faces of everyone out there. They’re in shock.”
“O.K. Just keep talking and sing the song and maybe no one will notice. Maybe they’ll think they heard that horrible thing you said but since we’re all in chapel, they will politely ignore it and forget it.”
That's called, “Minnesota Nice.” It happens all the time in Minnesota. I was counting on it happening at that moment.

I was just about to recover by leading the song when the entire first two rows of people burst into uproarious laughter, almost screaming. That was too much for me. I started to laugh, too, and couldn’t stop. Eventually we all recovered and went on with the song. I dismissed everyone and then was surrounded by staff and alumni, all reminding me that I said, “This next song really brings out the balls,” in a chapel service.

Daisy Hepburn immediately chastised me (while laughing) by asking, “Why did you say that? That was terrible. You should have just kept talking.” I always admired Daisy as an early mentor of mine and I knew she always speak great wisdom. But I also knew she had spoken many more bloopers that I had ever done. All I could do was to remind her that it was the first two rows of LBBC alumni that had burst into uncontrollable laughter, making my recovery impossible.

The whole chapel session was taped. But thankfully, that tape has long since disappeared. In fact, there’s a lot that has disappeared from LBBC. Some of that stuff I’d love to see again. But some of it I’d rather forget.