Another race weekend has arrived at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Bowmanville, Ontario. This weekend the IMSA Car Series is here for the Chevrolet Grand Prix. One of the things I love about this series are the very colorful cars. While race cars are usually full of color, it’s almost like specialized artists work on these cars. This is more than a race, it’s designed for full color entertainment as well.
I’ve spent a number of years at various tracks throughout North America. I found myself hooked on racing back in 1984 as track announcer for a little quarter mile paved oval in Peterborough, Ontario. Up until then I knew racing existed, but as a track announcer, I found myself hooked. What started as a way to make a few extra bucks, has now been a lifetime thing. While I don’t move as quickly around the track anymore, I do love the sounds, the smells and of course the cars.
Going Slow, to Go Faster
One thing remains the same, no matter what type of race car. If you want to go fast, it’s better to go slow. Another tip drivers give is as odd as the first one; If you want to drive fast, don’t look in the rearview mirror. Basically, if you’re looking in the rearview mirror, you’re also looking into the past and you’re more worried about what the person is doing behind you, rather than focusing on where you’re going ahead of you.
There’s a good spiritual lesson we can learn from those same driver tips as we journey through life. I remember when I first started in ministry close to 40 years ago I wanted to do everything fast. The days, and even evenings, were full of activities. It seemed like everything was urgent and had to be dealt with immediately. Sometimes, or maybe I should say many times, I was going so fast I often found myself ahead of what God wanted to do, instead of walking with Him doing what He was doing.
There is a need to slow down, no matter where you find yourself. It doesn’t matter if you’re a believer active in church, or simply a person trying to survive the rat race and chaos of life. When we slow down, we think better. When we slow down, instead of living in reaction mode, we live in a receptive mode. As we’re receptive our decisions are not only tolerant, but also more balanced. Life is full of ebbs and flows.
We would do well to slow down and even follow the example of Jesus who spent much time in prayer. As a matter fact, when He found His ministry getting busier, He actually spent more time in prayer.
The second tip from a race car driver is you drive faster, when you’re not constantly looking in your rearview mirror. Paul writes, “I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us” (Philippians 3:14). Proverbs provides an even more direct way of reminding us to keep looking forward.
“Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.”
Proverbs 4:25-27
Even in the Midst of Chaos
The picture above is what they call the grid walk. All the cars are lined up, fans abound as they walk along pit road, and there’s a lot of hustle and bustle going on. But even in the midst of that, you will also find drivers taking a quiet time, sitting on the pit wall, simply mentally preparing for the race ahead of them.
If we’re constantly looking in the rear view mirror of our life, we soon find ourselves stuck, unable to move forward because we’re too focused on the past. For the race car driver, he has a spotter talking in his ear guiding him along the track so he can keep his eyes forward, pressing toward the prize. The good news is for believers, we have the Holy Spirit speaking in our ear, encouraging us along the way, moving where He wants to go, instead of where we want to go.
Keep encouraged!
Dr. Rus