March Madness and Nasty Feet

It is an absolute delight right now to experience the pinnacle of March Madness. Here in CT we're loud and proud in support of Huskies squads dancing into both Final Fours. Regardless of one's team of choice, there is no doubt that there has been a whole lot of beautiful college hoops played in recent weeks. Watching underdog teams push through, conquer Goliaths, and continue shocking runs (much love to NC State - also with both teams still fighting) is simply awesome. 

Enjoying the Madness with our son Elias
at Gampel in Storrs a few weeks ago.
(Yes, we were also supporting the Orange!)

It's pure joy watching women's sports get long overdue support. It is so inspiring to witness athletes like Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, Kamilla Cardoso, and Aziah James excelling on the court. Shout out: both of my sisters played hoops through college, and my older sister hopped in her car 32 years ago to drive from central Massachusetts to Oklahoma to play pro ball in the WBA, the immediate predecessor to the WNBA. 

One dynamic that I treasure is when teams work as a whole with harmony, when they seem less like individuals and more like one body. Star players like those mentioned above are exciting to watch, but the game is elevated when they make their teammates better, when everyone contributes in meaningful ways. 

I savor March Madness every year, and this year it's been as welcome as ever since it landed in Lent and now hits its apex just beyond Easter. This post-Easter moment is a time when most who work in churches - lay leaders, pastors, organists, and staff - are in a kind of recovery from multiple Holy Week services, study groups, Sunrise, and more. These days after Resurrection Sunday also provide time for deeper reflection on the power of the last week-plus.

One moment that has my attention is the story about what Jesus does during the meal we know most familiarly as the Last Supper. Beyond what most of us know from the da Vinci painting, there is the less famous move he makes to show us what love looks like. During the meal, he takes off his robe, moves to the floor, and starts washing the feet of his friends.

Peter reacts in a way that makes sense to me. As Jesus approaches, Peter can't handle the honor. He scoffs at the idea that his mentor would lower himself to serve by massaging and drying his filthy toes. I get it. It is hard for me to fathom a love like this. What deity would enter a body and avoid the temptation to swagger and strut? Who is this mighty Lord and Savior who chooses not to be idolized but to move to the floor in order to caress our nasty feet? It's hard to wrap my head around a God who is love like this. It's a bit harder still to embrace the challenge to love others this way. 

During quiet moments for these next days, I'll reflect prayerfully on this example of Godly love. I will wrestle prayerfully with how I might work to follow this lead with my own service. 

For now, it's time to go enjoy UConn take on Iowa. Go Huskies!