MARCH MADNESS

It's that time of year again. College basketball is wrapping up its 1997-98 season. Tonight, the last of 64 teams will be selected for the Tournament. The word "Tournament" doesn't quite capture the flavor and energy of this event. "March Madness" is much more appropriate. People across the country are so caught up in who made it into the tournament, who's playing who, and where, that they can think of little else. I enjoy college basketball as much as anyone, I am amazed each year how much energy is expended during the tournament.

There are brackets to fill out, teams to watch, outcomes to predict. Who will make it to the Sweet 16, who will make it to the Elite 8, who will make it to the Final Four? This all takes place during the season of Lent. For Christians, this is a time of preparation for Holy Week and Easter. During this 40 day period, plus Sundays, we prepare ourselves, we take stock of our lives, we examine our relationship with Jesus Christ, and we anticipate the awesome miracle that is Easter morning. Imagine if we took just a little of the energy expended during "March Madness" and directed it toward helping others and strengthening our relationship with God. Wouldn't that be amazing?

Lent is often thought of as a time to "give up" something. Perhaps it is a time to "do" something. Find an organization through which to give your time and talents, offer a smile to those in desperate need of one. Let us take some of our precious time and devote it to God. This doesn't mean turning off the television entirely, but devoting our energies to others and to God.

The real "Madness" can be seen during Holy Week. Jesus enters Jerusalem a King, and by the end of the week, is crucified on a cross. That's victory over death and eternal life. Holy Week is a few weeks away, but it is our focal point throughout Lent.

The NCAA Tournament will be exciting, no doubt. But let's not get so caught up in it that we forget about the season of Lent. As the weeks of the tournament come and go, and the teams narrow to the Final Four, may we come closer to God. Let us prepare ourselves for the amazing miracle of Easter.