In the Pits

Lately I've been thinking about car racing and pit crews. I don't usually think about it, but a few fast facts on the side of my breakfast cereal started me thinking about the subject. When I've visited my grandparents in California my grandpa will often watch NASCAR races and I've enjoyed watching them as well. Of course car racing is a big part of the movie Cars too. So even though I'm not too much into car racing, for whatever reason I've been thinking about it more.

I've especially been thinking about the pit crews. At least for me anyway, I just think about the car and the driver. But the pit crew? When I did some research, I found out some fascinating facts.

First of all, I was impressed by the fact that pit crews train and exercise on a regular basis. The idea makes sense; I'd just never thought about it before. I know that I certainly couldn't service a car in just a few seconds without being in top-notch condition! The pit crews also use something called pit strategy--which basically means that they strategically plan when and how each pit stop is going to be made. Of course, there may be changes in the plan as the race unfolds, but I think you get the general idea. The bottom line is that if you don't have a plan and aren't in good shape, you won't make a successful pit stop. That takes dedication and hard work. And if you don't do this that means your driver won't win the race!

In the same way, if we as Christians don't prepare and have a relationship with God, we won't win against the hard times and trials that we will face. How do we prepare, and have a relationship with God? By reading His Word and talking with Him in prayer. I found it interesting that the apostle Paul talks the same idea in
1 Corinthians 9:24-25, even though he is using the allegory of the Olympic Games:

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever."

A rear wheel changer changes a...rear wheel!
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Second and last of all, I realized how much smoother and faster the servicing of a racecar goes when there is a highly trained team and each member knows exactly what to do. The jackman will hoist the car up so that the tires can be changed. The two tire changers will take off the old tires and and put on the new tires, which the tire carriers have given them. This is all done while the gas man is refueling the car. In a matter of seconds the servicing is done, and the car rejoins the race.

I thought it was interesting the similarities between pit stop efficiency and how the church works. Within the pit crew, everyone knows what to do when. And no one is brooding that he got a lowly, unimportant job. The tire carriers aren't wishing that they were tire changers, and the gas man isn't wishing he was the jackman. Everyone is focused at the job at hand and performs is with smoothness, fastness, and efficiency.

How the church works. Whether it be the church, your family, a pit crew, or any group you're a part of, everything will go better if everyone knows what to do and happily does their job well. Sometimes in a group of people there will be quibbling about how some people wanted a certain job, or how someone thinks that the job assigned to them isn't important or useful. But that isn't true. Different people with different talents have different abilities and thus different jobs suit them the best. Alan may like to serve the church by helping behind the scenes, while Georgia may feel perfectly happy to lead out in song service. No matter what our role or position in a church or other group, everything is important. We are different people but still one body.

The apostle Paul talks about this idea in 1 Corinthians, this time in chapter 12:12:

"The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ."

"So it is with Christ". Meaning, the church. The body is made up of many different parts, but it is still just one body. Every unique part has a job to do, and without each part the body couldn't run! Just think, if the feet detached themselves from the body because they weren't as important as say, the eyes, what would be of the body? Or if the ears didn't think they were as important as the hands, where would the sense of hearing be? The point is that each part is different, but vital to the success of the whole.

In your church, your group, your family, have you ever thought that your job isn't important? When you do, think back to the body, and the pit crew. Remember that every job is important, and the success of each is vital to the team and whole.