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By Rev Don Rivers
Have you ever felt like a gerbil running on a never-ending wheel? Many times life is a blur, moving at a speed that is difficult to keep up with. We find ourselves being swallowed up. Time to stop, put on the brakes, slow down and take a deep breath. Breathe. Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
This time of year can be a whirlwind. As the season winds down and the time runs short for racing, the rescheduled races run up against the year ending special events. It can make for a challenging scramble to get it all in. With two southern races, North Wilkesboro and Martinsville, the Whelen Modified Tour extends well into October. Sprinkle in an ROC and some Tri-Track rescheduled races and we have a full slate in October. And that’s not the end; as the Monaco Tri-Track Modified Series closes out their season in November at Seekonk.
With the move to one day shows it is even more important to be ready to roll. Have you ever seen twelve hours go by as fast as it does on raceday? The hours turn into minutes, the minutes into seconds and before you know it the checkered flag has fallen and it’s time to pack up and head home. Time just seems to fly by.
This is especially true when you are fixing a mechanical issue, trying to get out for the one and only practice session, turning the car around from practice to go over the scales for qualifying. Then there are the times when you are chasing the setup or trying to repair some damage. The next thing you hear is the call for your heat or feature. Where does the time go?
We experience similar events in our daily lives. We wake up, get going and before you know it, the day is over. Where does the time go? The Season just started and now it is in the books. There are a few things to finish up before the Champions are crowned and we start looking forward to next year. It hit me yesterday at the track when someone said, “see you next year.”
I look at the photos of my children and grandchildren. I remember the times that went by all too quickly. The times of our lives pass too quickly, our children move on to lives of their own. Now the grandkids are growing up and building their future. I find myself wondering if I spent enough time with them. I wonder if I have taught them the right way, the way of God.
It seems to me that we get caught up in things that seem important, we think they need to get done, but in hindsight they were not the most important. I received an important piece of advice from a good friend once, “If it’s going to matter in five years it’s alright to worry about, if it is not don’t waste the time worrying.”
We can be guilty of placing importance on things that are not truly important. We lose our sense of priorities. We worry about things that we do not need to worry about. We consume our time trying to change or influence things we cannot. We have an agenda and when it doesn’t go the way we want it to we worry about what will happen next. Jesus asked us a question:
Matthew 6:27, Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
Do you know the answer? Sometimes we think we can change the events of tomorrow if we worry about them enough. We can’t. The answer, no one can. So why do we do it? We have trouble believing that God really has it all under control. We worry because we don’t have faith that God is going to get it right. We think He needs some help.
Breathe! Stop, put on the brakes, take a breath, and live the life God has planned for you, not the one you think you want. Not the one we think we want. Not the one we worry about and get anxious over. The one God has planned for us. Without taking the time to enjoy the journey life will be gone before we know it.
God promises us that He will provide for our needs. He has it all under control. He offers us joy, His presence and peace; His plan. We need only to trust Him with all of our heart. Listen to the promise God shares with us through the Prophet Jeremiah,
Jeremiah 29:11-13, For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
There is too much life to live to be enslaved to the rat race. Try to avoid getting so busy with things that we forget about checking in with God and doing what He wants us to do. We get so busy trying to survive we forget to take time to look around at what others are going through, what others need. God promises to provide what we need and that provision will give us hope and a future. God wants us to consider what others are going through and how we can come alongside with support and encouragement.
If we have put our trust in ourselves or others then we will be disappointed. Even if we accomplish everything we want we will still be missing something. It is God and God alone that can give us abundant life. Fulfillment in life comes only through Jesus Christ. No matter what we have, what we accomplish, what social standing we achieve, it will be incomplete without a saving knowledge of God through Jesus.
Don’t get consumed by worry and the pressure to get things done. The line of the song says, “Life’s too long to live like this.” Focus on what is truly important, on what will affect eternity. Focus on the things of God. His promise is that He will provide and it will be good.
Live in such a way as to be sensitive to the leading of God. Step off the gerbil’s wheel. Stop running so fast that life is a blur, slow down and let things happen. Breathe. Watch for where God is working and join Him there.
Ephesians 1:18; NLT; I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.
Psalm 118:24; NLT; This is the day the Lord has made.
We will rejoice and be glad in it.
Until next time, remember God loves you and Jesus is Lord over Auto Racing! God Bless. Remember, that your prayerful support and donations helps us continue this ministry. Thank You.
