PRESSURE                

 If you have ever seen any of the American Idol shows, you might have noticed as I have that after the contestants are eliminated, when they are asked to sing one last time, they sound better than when they were in the competition.  The only thing that you can attribute this to is the pressure being off.

 Along these same lines, often as I visit in the pits I will notice some drivers working with their practice trees trying to get that perfect light.  I have even seen some in the staging lanes practicing with the release button right before going into the water box.  Nothing wrong with that, but when many get to the starting line in seems to just leave them as they get that big red eye.  Could this be the same pressure that the singers are experiencing?

 I don’t believe that it is lack of experience, as many racers have been competing for decades.  Nor do I believe that they are being intimidated by the person or car in the other lane.  But I do believe that frequently it is simply the pressure to perform well and they over compensate.  Wouldn’t it be nice if we, like an engine, had a PCV vale to release overbuilt up pressure?  Not unlike what we see in cartoons with pressure blowing out character’s ears.  And yet there is a way of escape from this pressure; it’s called prayer.  “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” (I Peter 5:7)

 Of course everyone wants to win, but that should not be your prayer.  Instead, pray that the Lord will help you to do your best; after all, you were all practiced up, were you not?  Pray for safety, not only for yourself, but for the one in the other lane and those all around you as you go down the track. Pray to have fun and relax and be able to enjoy yourself.  Let’s all have some fun out there!

                                                                                Dan Laterza

 This January, Chaplain Dan and his wife received a great blessing when Frank and Terry Renda and their son Frankie gave them their motorhome. What a great act of love and sacrifice.  It has enabled Chaplain Dan and Claire to stay at the track in comfort, taking the strain of extra travel during the event away.  They will better be able to meet the needs of those who need them, regardless of the weather or time of day or night.  Stop on by and share the blessing with them.  Their door is always open to you.