March Madness 2012

March Madness

Today is a big day for Kentuckians.  It’s “March Madness” and our beloved C A T S are still in the “DANCE”. 

I didn’t grow up in a big sports family.  I don’t have memories of my parents and siblings and I sitting around biting nails as we wait for our favorite team to win.  I have thought back over my life and no, I don’t remember a single time of doing that for a single team.

I do remember cheering on the local teams on which my different siblings play, but March Madness was not in the library of my memories.

Not until 1984.

That was the year everything changed.

I was introduced to a family who lived and breathed basketball.  And, generally speaking, it was  not just any basketball…..it was UK basketball.

I remember one of this family’s members telling me “in our family, you are an athlete…you are either a good athlete or a bad athlete, but you ARE going to be an athlete.”

Now, I was not too overly concerned because I was a pretty serious runner at the time.  And, while I would not have really considered myself overly athletic, I did consider that I would be able to slide under the term athlete.

I am not sure I ever did.

But I did learn to “bleed blue”, spell C A T S and find the locations where UK blue items could be purchased in quantity.

To say I became immersed in the UK frenzy is an understatement.

It almost became my religion.

And, that was something with which I struggled.   Really struggled.

But, as I sit here today writing this, I have to confess to a changed perspective.

I realize now that most of my CAT fans and other major sports fans use their sport as a tool…a source of commonality to foster camaraderie between them and their friends and acquaintances.

Just a fancy way of saying, “sports are the glue which binds them in friendship with others”.

Yes, I do know many sports “Catfanatics” who love “Catlanta” and all things blue and white…and, some are frankly “over the top”,

But, as I think about most of my sports friends, they are some of the most good and Godly people I know.  They love their basketball hard and serious.  They can quote UK basketball stats as simply as they can say the alphabet.  They know the players names, numbers and barbers.

And, they have great passion.

Many of these same people parlay their love of sports on others as a way of bringing them into the fold of their friendship.

You see, once you be-friend someone, really embrace them into your life and into the things for which you have passion, then is your real opportunity to share your faith.

And, many of my UK friends do just that.

Along with their Cats Paws, they take time to Prayer Pause.

Next to their game strategizing is their care planning.

These same people who can whip up a pre-basketball/football feast are the same ones who can prepare an elegant baby shower, memorial dinner or youth banquet.

And, as I started making a list of my favorite athletic fans, I realized something.

Every single one of them was a person I would consider a strong Christian.

Amazing.

Not just a bench warming, pew warming person/family but a bold, strong warrior for God.

These are the people who you call at 2am in a crisis, who kneel beside you when your child is sick or your parent is dying.  These most beloved athletes do love their sports…..especially their CATS or Cardinals, but you know what I realized?

They love their God even more.

And, they use sports as a way of giving honor to Him.

They use their couches, their leather chairs and their tvs to invite others to come to know HIM as they come to know them.

To these friends, even better than a “slam dunk” on the court of basketball is a full dunk in the baptistery at the front of our church.

Better than the choir of C A T S at Rupp or C A R D S at the Yumm Center are the cheers you hear over one new baptism into Christ.

Standing Ovations are amazing to these people….who raise hands with each goal and each Immersion.

Many many people have come to know our Lord who would not have otherwise if not for my friend’s love of sports.

Many are now Christians with their own favorite team because one of these special folks invited them to a “pre-game” party which led to a post-game devotional, teen activity or prayer service.

These people have it figured out.

You sometimes have to meet people where they are in life….

On the court, in the field, at the theater.  In the school, in the hospital, at the foot of a grave. 

And, you have to share the Good News of our God in a way which others who don’t know him can understand.  That may mean, you don the blue and white or red and black or whatever other your favorite team may wear.

And, you share.

You share laughter, foot stomping, yelling at the Refs.  You share wings, a spot on the sofa and friendship.

And, more importantly, you share HIM.

And, I cannot help but believe that that “Great COACH in the heavens” looks down upon us, his sports fanatical children and smiles…..

Because He, even better than us, sees the impact on a human heart which a healthy love of sports can make.

Isn’t He who said, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith”  I Timothy 4:7

I believe with all of my heart that these same “Cat-fanatics” will do just as this verse says…..

They will fight the good fight of life, they will finish their race…and, they will keep the faith with the same love of God, with the same deep-seated passion that they demonstrate with their favorite team.

“Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training.  They do it to get a crown that will not last; but WE do it to get a crown that will last forever.  Therefore….do not run like a man (woman) running aimlessly; do not fight like a man/woman beating in the air”  I Corinthians 9:24-27

“Seek first His kingdom and righteousness.”  Matthew 6:33

I don’t know what Heaven will be like.

I don’t know if there will be an Arena for Cat fans and a separate Arena for Card fans.  I don’t know if we will all fill one arena and will become common fans.  I don’t even know if ….gasp….we will not even have sports for which to be a fan of.

So, as we cheer on our fans, this week and in the future…..let’s do it with great Fanfare!

Let’s do it with our whole hearts.

Let’s do it with a purpose.

Let’s get a “W” for the only team which really matters.

Team God!

Blessings,

Lesa