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Every year, when we get to late March and early April, there are two things on my mind — Easter and the NCAA men’s basketball tournament a.k.a. “March Madness”.
Do these two marvelous things have anything in common? I think so, if you know where to look.
‘We’re here now!’
Common images seen during any NCAA tourney programming are those of the “Cinderella” 1983 title game — such as North Carolina St. coach Jim Valvano running around on the court after his Wolfpack won in a dramatic upset, or guard Dereck Whittenburg coming up short on the last-second shot (or “passing the ball”) and having it caught by forward Lorenzo Charles who dunked it in the basket for the win.As I was thinking about this upcoming Easter, my thoughts went to part of the 2013 ESPN documentary about the team called Survive and Advance.
Specifically, an anecdote about Valvano’s reputation for playing a “slow down” and low-scoring game as a winning strategy, and how he went against this strategy once in the title game in Albuquerque against the heavily-favored, and very talented, University of Houston team (a.k.a “Phi Slama Jama”).
Valvano told the media that if his team won the opening tip of the Monday night game, they might not take a shot until Tuesday.
In the locker room, he told his players the opposite.
“We’re here now!” he allegedly bellowed. They were at the end goal where they wanted to be all year. There was no reason to hold the ball or slow it down. The team came out shooting from the start, en route to the dramatic 54-52 win.
I feel the same way about Easter and the end of Lent.
Once we get to that Sunday of Sundays WE’RE HERE! No more beating ourselves up because it’s Lent — WE’RE HERE! CHRIST IS RISEN! REJOICE! DON’T RUN THE CLOCK DOWN! COME OUT READY TO PLAY!
Make the most of each day
The film also shows a clip of Valvano at the ESPY Awards in 1993, shortly before his death from cancer.
The oft-replayed speech includes the former coach telling everyone three things everyone should do every day.
These are laughing, thinking, and crying (either sorrowful or joyful).
If one does these three things, Valvano said, “That’s a full day . . . you do that seven days a week, you’re going to have something special.”
He was right and those three things can be applied to our prayer lives.
Be open with God. Be honest with God. Contemplate God’s goodness. Offer up your joys and your sorrows. Embrace the joy in your life.
You do these things, you’re going to have a full day.
‘But time is short . . . and the road is long’
At the end of the tournament every year, a video package is played with the song “One Shining Moment” over video clips from the just-concluded tournament, including highlights of the championship just attained by the new winner.
We can look at Easter and Heaven as the end of a lifelong tournament for our salvation.
The difference between basketball and the Kingdom of Heaven is we can seek mercy when we lose. We all have a chance to win.
God will repair the busted brackets of our lives and give us more than just one shining moment to see his face.