Two years ago in May, Larry attended an NHRA National drag race in Englishtown, NJ. I attended a drag boat race in West Texas. I’m happy to say that we don’t have to go separate directions often, but once in a while, it’s necessary.
It’s such a privilege to pray with racers before they go in the water, or an asphalt racer before pulling up to the starting line. This particular weekend, I remember a young gentleman asking for prayer. As always, Larry and I include “safety” as an integral part of that prayer.
It was elimination day at the boat race. I watched the Christmas tree light up; yellow, countdown, and then green. The young man that I prayed for took off down the liquid quarter mile poised for speed. Instead of a fast, smooth pass, he only went a few feet before the engine sputtered, chugged, and died. The rescue crew had to haul him back to the in-ramp.
I felt so bad. My flesh succumbed to the guilt pattern of “Did I not pray the right things? What happened?”
I found the racer back in his pit later that day and asked him, “Hey, sorry about that pass. Do you want your money back on that prayer?” His eyes got real big and he grabbed my arm and said, “You don’t understand! God DID answer your prayer! If my boat would have reached the speed I anticipated, so many things would have happened, and I would have been pitched out of the boat at high speeds and who knows what would have happened!”
I was stunned, to say the least, and yet, once again reminded; it’s not about me. It’s not about my capability to say just the right prayer. Prayer is NOT a good luck charm. Prayer is NOT a routine that becomes superstition. Prayer is ALWAYS about our relationship with God. He is delighted when we stop our busyness to focus on Him through Jesus Christ. He loves being included in everything we do!
