Time to get on the road. This week the green flag drops on the racing season. The indication so far is that we will be getting back to normal. Anticipation fills my heart as I look forward to running the race. Let’s drop the Green and get this race underway. Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
When most of you read this the first race of the Whelen Modified Tour will be in the book. Historic Martinsville Speedway will have opened the door to return to racing action for the tour. The last time I looked they are expecting a full field of cars and maybe a few extras. I’m looking forward to seeing the green grass in the corners of the paperclip. (Editor’s note: Grass gone, replaced by asphalt, bummer.)
I know other series, both dirt and asphalt, have been running races, but my indication of spring is the first Tour Modified race. After Martinsville tradition will take a back seat. Thompson Speedway’s traditional Tour stop for the Ice Breaker is not on the schedule this year. Replacing it will be something new, the Outlaw Open Modified Series. The new series, promoted by the ACT/PASS partnership promoting the Historic Thompson Oval has decided to forgo the affiliation with NASCAR and run without their sanction. As much as we like things to stay the same, we know that things change. The field is full of most of the top modified drivers in the Northeast and I expect we will see an excellent race.
More departures from tradition are in order. When the Whelen Modified Tour visits Stafford Motor Speedway later in the month it will be the first time without Stafford being a NASCAR sanctioned track. Over the winter Stafford Motor Speedway decided to drop the sanction and operate outside the NASCAR banner.
The changes of spring, new life begins, the transition from brown to green. To borrow an old phrase, “the only thing certain is change”. I don’t hold a crystal ball and predicting what the future holds has never been my strong suit, but I do know this, focus on today, what is here and now. If we get caught up trying to predict the future, we will miss the only opportunity we have to embrace the present.
Think about that as we look back on what the last year held for us. We sat here one year ago and didn’t even know when we would race again. No matter what our opinion was we didn’t have the power and authority to change things. I think we will benefit ourselves if we embrace the reality of that.
James 4:13-16; NLT; Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” Otherwise you are boasting about your own pretentious plans, and all such boasting is evil.
Plans are an interesting thing; I wonder how many things in life turn out the way we planned? I am not implying that if they don’t turn out the way we plan it is bad. I am also not saying the opposite, we cannot plan good things. I am saying we have no idea what the future holds and all our planning won’t make it coming any more certain. I am saying we need to take a different approach to this life we live.
Let’s take a quick peak in the tomb. It was empty. Did the followers of Christ expect that? No. In fact they made plans for a different outcome. The ladies went home from the crucifixion and prepared spices as they would for any death. They planned on treating it like they always did. When they got to the tomb their plans were in vain, He’s not here, He is risen.
Wait? How’s that again? He’s where? They went back to the disciples and said, he’s gone, someone took Him. Nothing was further from the truth. No one took the body; Christ has power over life and death. Death could not hold him. That wasn’t something they planned for.
Neither did the disciples. They were despondent and afraid. They didn’t believe the words that Jesus had told them. They didn’t embrace God’s plan; they were too busy trying to figure out what to do now that he was gone. Remember what I wrote a few weeks ago?
When it does not seem likely. When it does not seem possible. When it does not make sense to us. Then it has to be God!
I encourage you to not let the changes of the new season be a hindrance to exploring the new options we have in the racing schedule. The same for our life, let this new season be met with anticipation and excitement. What great things does God have planned for us?
Don’t let the fact that things didn’t turn out the way we planned be a roadblock that keeps us from embracing what the future holds. I know who holds the future and He has a plan that is beneficial and fulfilling for us.
Remember His plan;
John 10:10; NLT; The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
Embrace the new; reminisce about the old and look forward to making a difference tomorrow through the leading of God. He is faithful. He knows what tomorrow holds. He can and will provide hope and blessings for us.
Spring is here! Racing will soon be heard echoing through the air. The familiar smells and sounds will make our hearts skip a beat. Embrace that, don’t take it for granted, don’t look past it making plans for tomorrow, it may never get here. Take a deep breath, look forward to each day and pursue it like it was your last!
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.
