I am regularly reminded that God opens a path for me, whether I am following it or resisting it.
I spent last Thursday night through Sunday afternoon at Summit Point Race Track in West Virginia with my friend Spike, as he participated in racing school all day on Friday and three races on Saturday and Sunday. Spike’s been racing in the Mid-Atlantic Region of the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) since 1994 and I’ve crewed for him since 2007. After a ten year hiatus, it was time to return to the track with a brand new race car we built during the last two years.
While I love building a car from the ground up, testing the endurance of the car and driver, making on-the-fly repair and refinements, conferring with the driver and making adjustments between laps, I really was anxious about going racing on this particular weekend.
The drivers’ school was originally scheduled in March with races planned throughout the spring and summer. When the coronavirus pandemic began, like every other sport, all SCCA events were put on hold. Then we got a break, with a late start and a very compressed season beginning last week. Of course, strict adherence to social distancing and COVID-19 safety practices were required.
My personal challenge was the timing. I’m in the process of moving and putting my house on the market. I’ve spent every waking moment over the last month, when I wasn’t at work, packing, preparing for staging the house, stretching carpet, making minor house repairs and cleaning, all in preparation for the sale. I was stressed, physically exhausted, in a foul mood and feeling guilty about going away for three days and leaving my fiancée to deal with the house when I knew there was so much left to be done. This was not the weekend I should be racing!
However, I had made a commitment, and was encouraged to go and have fun (note that I did not say relax). I am reminded of the old expression, “God is my co-pilot,” or in this case co-driver. While the saying seems kind of trite, it did cause me to assess things. Amidst the stress, I know God is there for me. I was frustrated with looming deadlines, a sense there is not enough time to finish what needs to be completed and that I will fail. But things always seem to fall into place. I just need to have patience and the forethought to know He has my back.
Friday was a grueling day at the racetrack. For Spike, it was seven or eight cycles of classroom instruction then track time. For me, it was adjusting to constantly changing weather conditions. I changed all four tires from a set of dry pavement slicks to a set of rain tires, four times, then back to slicks again. Each time, the rain that necessitated the tire change had stopped and the track had dried before ever getting the car to the grid.
As God would have it, the change in conditions enabled me to practice my tasks. It gave Spike time in the cockpit to get his confidence back after a ten years and to learn the behavior of a completely new vehicle.
In the end, the weekend was a huge success. For all the sweat, tears and cursing shed over the weekend, it was fun, albeit hot! And we didn’t break anything and were spared from collisions with other drivers or tire walls. Best of all, Spike won first place in his division of F Production!
In the nearly six months since the pandemic caused us to modify how we have had to navigate life, I’ve prayed for those who have suffered economically and physically, or lost their lives. I am thankful for my employment, continued good health, friends, and our Holy Comforter community. It was nice to have a taste of normalcy this past weekend, but most importantly it was a reminder that we are blessed. The inconveniences we perceive as major problems are inconsequential compared to the suffering of many in the world. As my son is fond of saying, “Dad, that’s a First World problem.” Peace, love, and good health to you all.
Russ van der Veer
