UCONN

Fervor and Faith

I’m declaring this UCONN week. Just like the times where we’ve dug into Thanksgiving, Christmas and other milestones across the calendar, this week I want to look at March Madness (in the first week of April!). You’ll get a double dose of UCONN magic from me – this is what is inspiring me to write, so I hope you enjoy. A second UCONN post coming ‘extra’ this week on Wednesday. Back to talking about children’s books with Officer Buckle and Gloria next week.

I’ve communicated my love and passion for UCONN basketball to my daughters
through diffusion and osmosis — big science words. In layman’s terms - taken them to every game within striking distance: UT Austin, SMU, Ft. Worth. Got the gear — the t‑shirts, jerseys, and mugs. Paced the living room during games, cheering every basket. Doom and gloom when we (hear the word we?) have fallen short.

(bad) artist’s rendition

The men recently completed the largest second‑half comeback against a Number 1 seed in tournament history — downing Duke on an instant‑classic 35‑foot three‑pointer at the buzzer (aside – the UCONN and Duke men have met for some epic games in the tournament through the years!). We had spent that afternoon at the women’s Elite 8 — took our daughters to that one too, and what a game it was. We were traveling home when the men completed their comeback, so we missed the men’s triumph live.

My wife is not a huge sports fan. What energy she has is usually directed toward
the Texas Longhorns — her alma mater. Imagine my surprise when I walked into our living room later that night to give her a hug before bed and ‘caught’ her watching the end of the UCONN men’s game on replay.

She had heard about the comeback and wanted to experience it. Evidently, I’ve communicated —and inculcated — my UCONN basketball love to her too.

Instead of a quick hug, I sat down next to her, and we enjoyed the game ending together. It was bedtime, and the game’s delirious ending energizing and exciting —tough to settle for sleep, but… oh, so worth it.

While I couldn’t rest that night, here is where I’ll rest in this piece. Let’s linger with the thoughts I had as I tossed and turned.

I wondered if I’ve had the same fervor and passion to share about my faith and my God. Have we celebrated? Raised our hands in praise? Re‑arranged our travel, our schedules, and our lives to ‘see the big game?’

I guess I’m not sure. I’ve tried, but to be fair, I’m wondering. I think I can do more. When the girls are home — they are grown now —Sunday mornings are for church for sure, but is this enough? We pray over all our meals together, which is honoring, but… They know — I know they know — the depth of my faith. I’ve made this clear.

The joy I’ve gotten from UCONN fandom through the years is immense. We’ve celebrated 18 National Championships, Conference Titles, deep tournament runs. The Basketball Capital of the World by claim, acclamation, and achievement.

Yet how much greater the joy we find in the Lord. We claim sonship, daughterhood of the one true King. The result of Christ’s work on the cross achieved something we never could: reconciliation to the Triune God in all His glory.

Celebrating this gospel — good news — should not, in fact, require rearranging the logistics of our lives, but reside clearly, confidently and uniquely at the center of everything we do and are. I hope I’ve shown them that I am His biggest fan.

If this post gives you a sense of my UCONN fandom in the here and now, Wednesday’s will bring you on a journey to where it all began – hope you enjoy the trip.

Reflection Questions:

Are you painting your face for the Lord? Do you have the big foam finger pointing to the sky in praise?

What makes sports (or music, movies, TV, Youtube, etc.) so easy for us to ‘worship?’ What is a step we could take to bring that energy to our God?