Not a surprise to anyone, March is an exciting time for me. I absolutely love college basketball and all the hoopla (pardon the pun) around the NCAA tournament. Once, when I serve a church in Kansas, we showed the NCAA semi-final game on our video screens following a church service. I remember getting some criticism about doing that, some thinking that I was elevating basketball to the level of a church service! I reminded them that it was AFTER the service not during... but I don't think I ever convinced her.
I don't think there is anything wrong with taking pleasure in basketball... nor football, or golf, or swimming, or gardening (well maybe I've gone too far!). The point is that I think God delights in that which delights us. Of course we need to be careful to not elevate our hobbies to the level of worship but enjoying a fun past time enhances life.
I'll be celebrating and moaning through what I hope is a fun NCAA tournament. I will do so without apology. The God of all creation delights when we have fun. After all, God is awesome and delights in all of creation, even basketball.
Happy Lent! (can you even enjoy that??).
