Villanova. Kansas. Kentucky. Syracuse. Duke. Ohio State.
Robert Morris. Montana. Wofford. North Texas. Oakland. Northern Iowa.
Mid-majors. Bracket busters. Automatic bids. Giant killers. Buzzer beaters.
It has its own vocabulary and persona. The NCAA basketball tournament is one of the sports highlights of my year. I especially love the potential upsets in the first and second rounds. Sometimes, a Cinderella team will "dance" into the Sweet Sixteen or Elite Eight. Many of us will fill out brackets and try to predict all the winners and the ultimate winner. There are so many fascinating team and individual stories along the road to the Final Four.
I cannot see where it is bad to have intense interest, even passion, for something like "March Madness." We may live vicariously through the younger, more athletic and skilled players we see on the screen. We may enjoy the suspense, the intense, and the defense.
But, may our greater passion and pleasure be in serving our Lord. May we never have our heads so stuck "down here" that we forget about what we should be doing "out there" and preparing to live "up there." Nothing should capture a bigger place in our heart that "the kingdom of God and His righteousness" (Matt. 6:33). It should be a daily madness, not confined to a calendar or a season. Faithful, dedicated, and loyal service should dominate our interest and longing. May our greatest zeal be in serving Christ, trying to get ourselves and others there with us (cf. Titus 2:11-14).
Robert Morris. Montana. Wofford. North Texas. Oakland. Northern Iowa.
Mid-majors. Bracket busters. Automatic bids. Giant killers. Buzzer beaters.
It has its own vocabulary and persona. The NCAA basketball tournament is one of the sports highlights of my year. I especially love the potential upsets in the first and second rounds. Sometimes, a Cinderella team will "dance" into the Sweet Sixteen or Elite Eight. Many of us will fill out brackets and try to predict all the winners and the ultimate winner. There are so many fascinating team and individual stories along the road to the Final Four.
I cannot see where it is bad to have intense interest, even passion, for something like "March Madness." We may live vicariously through the younger, more athletic and skilled players we see on the screen. We may enjoy the suspense, the intense, and the defense.
But, may our greater passion and pleasure be in serving our Lord. May we never have our heads so stuck "down here" that we forget about what we should be doing "out there" and preparing to live "up there." Nothing should capture a bigger place in our heart that "the kingdom of God and His righteousness" (Matt. 6:33). It should be a daily madness, not confined to a calendar or a season. Faithful, dedicated, and loyal service should dominate our interest and longing. May our greatest zeal be in serving Christ, trying to get ourselves and others there with us (cf. Titus 2:11-14).
--Neal Pollard
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