It was 12 years ago this month our family moved to Mercer Island from Chicagoland. As I reflect on this 12th anniversary, I’ve realized the positive association I’ve had with the number 12 my entire life.

I was 12 years old when I had my first male teacher. Mr. Thacker was an influential man in my life because of his unique teaching style and the intentional way he affirmed my unique abilities. As a result, I communicated with my sixth grade teacher long after graduating from college.

It was also during my 12th year of life when our family moved from Marysville to Wenatchee. In hindsight, that move in the summer of 1964 was one of the most significant transitions in my life. The predictable sunshine of north central Washington was not the only thing that warmed my young life. The opportunities and challenges at a new school proved meaningful.

It was at Pioneer Junior High School I first discerned inner promptings motivating me to pursue a career in pastoral ministry. And taking my study of scripture seriously, I discovered 12 was a significant number in the Bible, too.

In the Old Testament, the 12 sons of Abraham’s grandson Jacob became the patriarchs of what would later be known as the 12 tribes of ancient Israel. And in the New Testament, Jesus spent the three years of his itinerant public ministry with 12 disciples. The number 12 was anything but coincidental for someone who viewed his followers as the New Israel.

Grade 12 was my favorite year in high school. In addition to being elected senior class president, I landed my first job. That was also the year I ceased being Greg Smith and became Greg Asimakoupoulos as my parents reclaimed our Greek surname.

But when our family moved to the Seattle area in 2005, I discovered that those two digits had a dimension that increased the significance of 12 to an even greater degree. That was the year the Seattle Seahawks won the NFC Championship and earned the right to play in their first Super Bowl.

Believe me, it didn’t take long to catch “Seahawks fever” and suffer the chronic symptoms that characterize “Twelves” each autumn.

Yes, the power of 12 is undeniable. Our devotion to our professional football team has the uncanny ability to draw people together. Regardless of our political, economic or religious backgrounds, we find a common denominator in our love of the Hawks.

And the unity that results from being loyal fans is a victory with long-lasting implications, even when our team falls short. Twelves are discovering what Christ-followers have known for centuries: “A committed community can hope and cope regardless of circumstances.”

Although losing hurts more than winning feels good, it’s good to know we do not suffer or celebrate alone. Like my Swedish friends remind me, “A shared joy is a doubled joy and a shared sorrow is half a sorrow.” Go Hawks!

Rev. Greg Asimakoupoulos is the full-time chaplain at Covenant Shores Retirement Community on Mercer Island. He is the faith and values columnist for the Mercer Island Reporter and contributes original poetry each Blue Friday to KOMO news radio.