Go(-kart)ing for Jesus

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." Roman 12:1-2

On Friday night I went go-karting with some of the lads from work in Dunbia. Before hand there was a lot of big talk from the guys in my department about winning, but I was nervous, I just didn't know what to expect. My main mission was not to come last and after my practise laps I was near convincing myself that the wooden spoon was unavoidable.

In my first heat, I started first on the gird and decide I would play it safe and make the ones behind do all the work if they wanted to get past me. Before the end of the first lap, was 4th and last in the heat and unable to catch the lads ahead of me. I was gutted and needed to rethink my strategy or my worst nightmare would come true.

In the second, I started last on the gird. This time I decide to throw caution to the wind and really go for it. I finished second in a close race. In my 3rd heat, 3rd on the gird again I decide to go for it. After 2 laps, I found myself in the lead and well out in front on my own. This just go for it attitude was really working and another successful 4th heat followed.

The 1/4 finals were next & I was sitting 3rd on the gird for mine with 4 other fellow racers. 1st on the gird managed to speed off from the rest of us, leaving a 4 way tussle for second and a automatic place in the semis. Again, I just went for it and gain it paid off as in the 3rd lap I was able to put daylight between me and the rest and book my place in the semis.

I was starting to get excited that I actually might make to the final. 3rd on the gird, and finished 3rd missing out on the final by 1 place. I finished 7th overall out of 24. Not bad for someone who thought the were destined for last and was all down to my all or nothing strategy that I decide to adopt during mt heats.

For those of us who follow Jesus, we can learn a lot from either playing it safe or giving our all. When I played it safe in the go-karting, nothing worked, and I ended up failing to achieve what I wanted. But when I changed to just going for it, I wound up doing better than I could have imagined. Living as a Christian is just the same. If you are afraid to come out of your comfort zones, relying on our own understanding and abilities, you will continually fail to serve God the way we are meant to.

However, if we just go for it, forget the doubts and rely on God, we can lead a very rewarding life. Just ask a couple of questions each day, maybe along the lines of "Lord, where do you want me to go today? What do you want me to say and to who? Am I thinking about what you want me to think? Am I doing your will?" and when you get those answers, just go for it, hold nothing back. I sometimes hold back, and when I do I'm left feeling disappointed that an opportunity has past me by. But the great thing there will always be plenty of opportunities. And when I do take the opportunities that God presents me, I'm left feeling blessed and encouraged. Carpe Diem - Seize the Day

Until next time, Keep Smiling :) JD