March Madness

Last night brought an end to the season known as March Madness which is about the 68 NCAA basketball teams selected from among some 300 to compete to be the 2019 National Champion. Once the field of teams is selected, many people join others in filling out a bracket, picking winners and losers, hoping to pick the path of the eventual champion before the first basket is made.

For many it is more than a fun shot in the dark. They pour over stats, listen to talking heads, and make a very serious attempt to be in the know and for it show on their selections. For some it is about money – it is gambling – hoping to strike it rich for as everyone knows, there is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow!

But while the “official” March Madness has been going on, there was certainly March Madness elsewhere this past March.

Who cannot say that what is happening at our southern border is not Madness? And it was exasperated in March.  I, for one, don’t know the solution, but I see much madness affecting many over the issue. March found heightened Madness at the border and over the border.

For years we have heard about China’s moves to take over Panama where they are already digging a much larger canal than the one we built a hundred years ago. One report stated that China is already buying and controlling both Italy and Greece (remember just a few years ago both were in economic throes – I hadn’t heard a report for three or so years – Why? China!).  Now China is moving in Central America. It was and is March Madness!

And while talking about that region, there is certainly madness in Venezuela between competing political ideologies. Underneath the riots and food shortages is Russia.  Communism, we hoped, died in 1989 when the Berlin Wall came down and the former Soviet Union broke apart. We, at least I, was wrong! Russia is doing much to make the rich South American country a satellite. (Interesting is the conservative movement in Brazil). Russia is no doubt a player in the Central American triangle driving immigrants our way. It is March Madness.

And speaking of competing ideologies – Washington D.C almost daily reveals a new or deeper Madness. Why is it that everything is partisan?  If one party says, “Yes”, the other MUST say, “No”? If one says, “Go”, the other says, “Stop”? It was March Madness all March!

And what about these Madnesses of this past March:

1. Robert Mueller spent millions and considered thousands of documents and witnesses and determined no collusion, but all was and is rejected by some. March Madness!
2. Drag queens were invited into public libraries to read to children. March Madness!
3. Virginia and Vermont declared that an infant born could still be killed if it was unwanted by the parent. Congress could not muster votes to disagree. March Madness!
4. Then there is Britain trying to leave the European Union. Nothing but March Madness!
5. What about turning Fremont into an island?  March Madness!
6. And Lori Loughlin, jailed for mail fraud, paying half a million dollars to get her daughters into USC as rowing team members. March Madness!
7. Rockets flying from the Gaza Strip into Israel knowing full well bombs would return and on both sides innocents would be killed. Madness seen in March!
8. The national debt going over 22 trillion – Trillion!!! It was March Madness and should be maddening!
9. A commercial in March by a lawn mower company declaring, “Break all the rules…make your own rules.” The lie of Genesis 3 flowing into your living room – Madness!

O, may God be looked to, heard, and followed that the Madness might subside and “peace and goodwill” rise.  Might the March Madness conclude tonight!