My son, Gilbert, was eight years old and had been in Cub Scouts only a short time. During one of his meetings he was handed a sheet of paper, a block of wood and four tires and told to return home and give all to "Dad." That was not an easy task for Gilbert to do. "Dad" was not receptive to doing things with his son. But Gilbert tried. I (Dad) read the paper and scoffed at the idea of making a pinewood derby car with my young, eager son.

The block of wood remained untouched as the weeks passed.

Finally, Mom stepped in to see if she could figure this all out. The project began. Having no carpentry skills, she decided it would be best if she simply read the directions and let Gilbert do the work. And he did. She read aloud the measurements, the rules of what he could do and what he couldn't do.

Within days his block of wood was turning into a pinewood derby car. It was a little lopsided, but looking great, at least through the eyes of Mom. Gilbert had not seen any of the other kids cars and was feeling pretty proud of his "Blue Lightning," the pride that comes when you've done something on your own.

Then the big night came. With his blue pinewood derby in his hand and pride in his heart they headed to the big race. Once there, my little one's pride turned to humility. Gilbert's car was obviously the only car made entirely on his own. All the other cars were a father-son partnership, with cool paint jobs and sleek body styles made for speed.

A few of the boys even giggled as they looked at Gilbert's lopsided, wobbly, and unattractive car. To add to the humiliation Gilbert was the only boy without a man at his side. A couple of the boys who were from single parent homes at least had an uncle or grandfather by their side, Gilbert had his "Mom."

As the race began it was done in elimination fashion. You kept racing as long as you were the winner. One by one the cars raced down the finely sanded ramp. Finally it was between Gilbert and the sleekest, fastest looking car there. As the last race was about to begin, my wide-eyed, shy, eight year old asked if they could stop the race for a minute, because he wanted to pray? The race stopped.

Gilbert hit his knees clutching his funny looking block of wood between his hands and with a wrinkled brow he set to converse with his Father. He prayed in earnest for a very long minute and a half. Then he stood, smile on his face and announced, 'Okay, I am ready."

As the crowd cheered, a boy named Tommy stood with his father as their car sped down the ramp. Gilbert stood with his Father within his heart and watched his block of wood wobble down the ramp with surprisingly great speed and rushed over the finish line a fraction of a second before Tommy's car.

Gilbert leaped into the air with a loud "Thank you" as the crowd roared in approval. The Cub Master came up to Gilbert with microphone in hand and asked the obvious question, "So you prayed to win, huh, Gilbert?"

To which my young son answered, "Oh, no sir. That wouldn't be fair to ask God to help you beat someone else. I just asked Him to make it so I don't cry when I lose."

Gilbert's simple prayer spoke volumes to those present that night. He never doubted that God would indeed answer his request. He didn't pray to win, thus hurt someone else. He prayed that God supply the grace to lose with dignity.  

Gilbert, by his stopping the race to speak to his Father also showed the crowd that he was there without a "Dad," but His Father was most definitely there with him.

Yes, Gilbert walked away a winner that night, with his Father at his side.

Cindy

How Do We Run the Race..

Life is a race. It is so easy to get caught up in the “You Have Got To Win..” mentality. We can find ourselves down on our knees before the throne of God asking our Lord to rig the race, to make us number one, to help us be winners instead of being concerned about what life is really all about. Life is to be enjoyed. It is about building relationships.. touching lives.. making a difference.. not about who wins the race.  

How have you been running the race lately? Come on.. you can make a difference.. let’s make that our prayer.

“Lord.. use us to be a blessing.. because that is the only way to really win at life.