Eyes Wide Open

Two weeks ago I crossed another activity off of my “bucket list” when I was invited by some dear friends to attend the NASCAR races at Talladega Super Speedway in Talladega, AL. I’ve been a closet NASCAR fan for some time now, and to see a race in person was nothing short of spectacular!

The great thing about Talladega is that it sets in the middle of nowhere and the best, er only way to experience this great weekend is to grab your tent/camper/RV and a few of your closest friends, then load up some cold drinks and good food and settle in for the weekend!

My traveling companions couldn’t have been better, and I am indeed grateful for their tremendous hospitality. We stayed in the infield just off of turn four. Our RV was fully-loaded and had all the amenities of home, including nice neighbors! We even had pit/garage passes, complete with access to the track and all of the drivers and their crews. On Sunday morning, I met singer/songwriter Chris Tomlin, who was on hand to lead worship at the worship service for drivers, crew, and race officials.

While this experience was beneficial in so many ways, I found myself asking, “What could the church learn from NASCAR?” Here’s what I’ve got:

1. Creativity: If I had a dollar bill for every school bus that had been converted into a fully-functional RV, I’d be a wealthy man. Some of these folks took very old and very out-dated buses and “redeemed” them in the very best sense. I wonder how the church might think creatively about their “old” spaces so that they are functional in the 21st Century.

2. Risk-taking: Every great NASCAR driver has to take risks now and again, especially as each race comes to a close. If you want to finish in the top five or even win a race, you have to take risks.

3. Diversity…We met people of every race, color, creed, socio-economic background, etc. I was reminded of how too often I swim in my own small pond and it was refreshing to be with so many different folks.

…but Unity: We were all there for the same two reasons. Of course we wanted to watch the race cars go fast, but I contend that people are just as compelled to go to the races because of the “community” faithful who are unified around a common purpose. I found myself saying, “I went to a great bit family reunion in the middle of Alabama, and a NASCAR race broke out!” The enthusiasm for racing, the personal knowledge of the driver, and the shared enjoyment of the entire experience was infectious. And here’s the great thing about it…there were 43 drivers and only one can win. This is different from a typical sporting contest where 50% go home happy and 50% go home disappointed. Here, if your driver wins, it makes an already-great day an even better day. I would say the same is true in any local church where there are 43+ views/perspectives/interpretations present, but the goal is never about “winning” and “losing,” it is about Christ and his Kingdom. Finally, this unity theme (the apostle Paul is pretty big on this you know) was prevalent in the way everyone loved to be with one another and shared with one another as they had need. Need some lighter-fluid? Wanna check out my custom RV? Need a roof from which to watch the race from the infield? No problem! Mi casa es Su casa. When you’re here, you’re family.

4. Communication and teamwork: This is essential. The drivers each have a “spotter” who helps them navigate the track and pass other cars without wrecking. In fact, the drivers can only see out the front of their cars, and just barely side-to-side. They rely on the spotter heavily. Would that we all had a “spotter” in our lives that we could trust to help us navigate the way and help us see what we do not see! This requires a great deal of humility, the admission that we can’t be the body of Christ without the other parts. The driver also has a crew chief…and he tells the crew chief what the car is doing on the track. Is it turning properly? Does the air-pressure in the tires provide optimum speed and handling? Does the track-bar need to be adjusted? It’s kind of like confession…we share with the Father our lives and the “brokenness” and trust that the Great Crew Chief knows how to tweak and make adjustments that will enable us to remain faithful.

One more thing…NASCAR is so different, so much better up close and in person than it is from a distance or by television. Following Jesus is much the same. The more you come to know him through the Word and through the body of Christ, the more you come to love Him and the life He gives.