The football team of the university where I attended law school has a traditional lackluster football program. Playing especially in the formidable Big Ten Conference with traditional powerhouse programs and now additional ones that moved from other conferences, my school’s program was considered one of the weaker ones year in and year out.

Until this year, where they are having the best season in school history. As of this writing, they are unbeaten at 10-0 and will likely have a chance to play for the national championship.

No doubt they are good this year but there is also a measure of luck involved.

They say timing is everything but I think it’s more accurate to say it’s actually alignment. This year’s team had some very good transfer players, an effective new head coach, and a soft schedule. By chance, they have not played a single ranked team this year. In addition to the cream puffs, the usual suspects of powerhouse teams are somehow having a down year.

The pieces fall into place and the stars align.

When I look at my own journey, I see there were times when my position on the proverbial chessboard wasn’t great. I needed more or better pieces, some to be moved or removed, in order for me to improve my position. In practical terms, getting rid of certain connections, adding and replacing, as well as waiting for some to mature and develop.

One such connection is my daughter. As she gets older, she is able to understand more of what I want to impart to her. The knowledge I picked up doesn’t go to waste and potentially augments her greatly.

This requires tremendous patience and faith.

I often refer to the classic baptism scene in the Godfather where all enemies of the Corleone family are wiped out in a master stroke. That event took a lot of time to plan.

And wait for.

At some point, the Corleone Family wasn’t in any shape or form to effectively do too much. They were perceived as weak and was probably actually so. They needed time to regroup and rebuild. Very quietly.

A key precursor to them reclaiming their power and position is the return of Michael, the youngest son who fled overseas for safety. His father, the Don, negotiates for his return and agrees to a ceasefire, apparently ceding power to a rival boss.

The Don wants Michael back home for personal reasons of course, he’s the favorite.

But it is also business.

The Don knows that he needs Michael to implement his plan due to his son’s capabilities. It is all accounted for.

The Don’s death, the planned betrayal of a top lieutenant, the baptism of a child, and the element of surprise all align.

So we wait, not in vain hope and blind faith, but in a vert real way.