“There’s more to racing than just winning.” Mr. Tex from the movie Cars.
My friend, Dan Bryan, wrote a post today, looking at the metaphor of the marathon of life from a different angle. I hadn’t planned on writing anything today, but his post got me thinking and this racing theme just won’t go away. Cooper (my middle child) decide that he wanted to watch Cars with me *again* as a part of Daddy Day. The life lessons from that movie (and their connections to Dan’s metaphor) are pretty incredible.
Life is not just the race, but all the training and preparation that goes into the race as well. In Cars, Lightning McQueen was stuck in a town off the beaten path where he had to endure some trials, or training if I can stretch it that far. We go through trials that mold us and shape us into who God wants us to be. Just like my wife said in her post last night, those trials are often painful, but the pain is required for real growth. At the end of the movie, McQueen was offered the goal that he was trying to reach, not because he won the race (which he didn’t), but because of the way he handled himself in the race among his fellow racers. His attitude was a direct result of his training.
We are studying James right now in church, and I am continually brought back to the beginning of the first chapter. Consider it pure joy when you face trials because it brings perseverance. As that perseverance works in our lives, it produces maturity and wholeness in Christ.