by Cindy Walker Burton

March Madness

March came in like a gentle little lamb, but on Sunday the 15th, it raged like a caged lion. That morning, I departed for Sunday School under foreboding gray skies with multiple weather advisories in effect. By the time church dismissed, Winter Storm Iona was rigorously unleashing her relentless wrath on Rock Port. The temp had plummeted to the 20’s, snow was flying sideways, and wild winds whipped up a chill factor of -3 degrees: March Madness!

March Magic

I recently discovered the vintage soda fountain at Stoner Drug in Hamburg, Iowa. While perched on a pedestal stool at the marble counter, I was transported back to my childhood and Rock Port’s iconic Central Cafe’s maple nut ice cream. Stoner’s soda fountain features old-fashioned floats, phosphates, shakes, malts, sundaes, and ice cream sodas. The nostalgic charm of a sweet soda fountain is pure March Magic.

March Milestones

March milestones include Women’s History Month, Brain Injury Awareness Month, St. Patrick’s Day, NCAA March Madness, the Academy Awards, spring, Lent, and daylight savings time. I will expand on the Oscars and Brain Injury Awareness.

Oscars: God is Good. The 98th Academy Awards were televised March 15. I am a lifelong cinephile (movie fanatic) and look forward to the pageantry of the Oscars. I noticed only one Oscar winner mentioned God in their acceptance speech this year – Michael B. Jordan, who won Best Actor for his charismatic dual performance in “Sinners.” He began with, “God is good.” Well done, Mr. Jordan.

Brain Injury Awareness. My brain injury (and short term coma) resulted from a horrific, near fatal fall in 2013. Residual impairments included retinal tearing and visual damage. Once upon a time, someone questioned my confidence and competence to operate a paper cutter. While I do not have the visual acuity to execute a precisely straight cut, I do have confidence and competence to operate in life through Proverbs 3:26, “For the Lord shall be my confidence.”

The Lord Marches. Let us March forth with this encouraging verse from Deuteronomy 31:8, “But the Lord is the one marching before you. He is the one who will be with you. He won’t let you down. He won’t abandon you. So do not be afraid.”