Ready for the Madness

It's with mixed feeling that the NCAA tourney approaches.

In 1996, a tradition began. I was a youth pastor in Franklin, PA. One of my student's dad had just died, and I was looking for a way to build relationship with this Middle School age boy. I invited him to my home to watch the tourney, and we've been watching together ever since. In fact, for the last seven years, he's been traveling from Franklin to Shippensburg each year to watch the first weekend together.

But this year, our streak comes to an end. He got a new job and can not have time off. So he can't come here, and my responsibilities prevent me from going there. We've created an online bracket group, but it's just not the same. So I'm kind of bummed.

But on the other hand, my sons, now 9 and 11, have developed an interest in the tournament and will actually watch most of a game with me. All that's left to do is to teach them to nap in the middle of each game so that you can stay up until the end of the last games fo the night.

So...let the Madness begin!