Vestry Thoughts
By Walt Joyce
updated 04/03/2008

With March Madness upon us, I just HAD to write about basketball.  Those of you who know the Joyces well know that we are BIG basketball fans.  MaryAnn graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill and our basement playroom is a virtual shrine to Carolina basketball.  This year I have something to cheer about too.  For the first time since 1967, Davidson College is in the Sweet Sixteen!!  Right there with the Heels (although they have to travel to Detroit while Carolina gets to play in Charlotte).

Watching Davidson play in these last two games has been quite an inspiration.  In both games we’ve been down for all or most of the game.  Our star player, Stephen Curry, who looks like he’s twelve years old and undernourished compared to all those “trees” out on the court, managed in both games to rise to the occasion to bring home the victory in the nick of time.

Carolina has been crushing their opponents, which suits MaryAnn fine, but leaves me a bit bored, especially after watching the Wildcats “claw” their way to victory.

Maybe there is some truth to the old saying that the things your work hardest for are the things that mean the most to you.  I can’t say that I’ve been a very good Episcopalian this weekend since I spent the whole weekend in Raleigh scalping tickets and watching basketball games, but I can say that this Easter has been a special one for me.  My whole family watched Davidson and then Carolina march on to the Sweet Sixteen.  But my daughter at least went to church Sunday morning and prayed for the rest of her heathen family.  Thanks Betsy 

And thank you, Lord, for reminding us every day in little ways how wonderful your gifts to us are . . . especially the gift of Your Son and His victory over death for all of us.