… and most people know what that means. Yep, we are getting ready for the Indy 500 race during the Memorial Day weekend several weeks from now. In fact, the first days of open testing during the month happened last week. I admit I am an Indy 500 nerd and have my father to thank for that.
I grew up on the south side of Chicago – some of my fondest and most sacred memories revolve around listening to the race with my father on Dad’s Toshiba transistor radio. Al Unser, Sr., A.J. Foyt, Gordon Johncock, Bobby Unser and so many other racers of that time continued to thrill us year after year. Back then, the race wasn’t televised but Dad and I would work side by side taking in the action on the radio while we were doing Memorial Day chores. In fact, many years later, long after Janet and I moved with the kids to Indianapolis, I was at the airport one day getting ready to fly to a client and I saw Al Unser in person.
I really don’t suffer from celebrity crushes, but I decided to approach him at the gate – he was sitting alone – and when I finally introduced myself to him, I couldn’t believe how choked up I became. I could barely speak and know that I teared up as I recalled my days with Dad listening to the Unsers on race day. He made quite an impact on me that clearly never left. I, of course, thanked him for the memories. He was most gracious and had a handshake that I will never forget. All those thousands upon thousands of race miles holding a steering wheel and here I was talking to my childhood hero… I called Janet afterward and could barely speak – she thought something bad had happened to me.
Each race day, I had several chores to do. I had to scrape the old paint off the front railing and then re-paint it with beige Rust-Oleum. Then, when that job was completed, I would walk across our single car driveway around the corner of the garage and start to trim back the irises that had been blooming the week before the race. Dad had beautiful flowers – he had a real gift for taking care of our small gardens. In fact, my love of growing things started when Dad gave me a patch of ground to try my hand at radishes, cucumbers, squash, corn and even green peppers.
But working with Dad on race day trimming the iris bed was the highlight of our Memorial Day routine. We had every color imaginable and he taught me how to trim the blooms that had passed their prime. I loved working with my father. We had the radio on in the background and listened to the excitement of the Indy 500 as we were doing our chores.
In fact, I have continued the family tradition with our son, Andrew. Each year, since he was born, Andrew and I have listened to the race on a transistor radio I got as a teenager. There are years that we have been able to turn on the TV, but nothing beats the coverage of the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing” on the radio. Just as with my father before me, race day is a special time. Andrew and I don’t even need to communicate ahead of time. It’s a standing date each year – as long as there is a breath in me. Only this time, I’m the father… and we are creating the same kind of memories that I remember from my childhood with my own Dad who died before Andrew was born. I am the link that kept this family tradition alive…
Since Janet and I moved our family to Indianapolis in 1982, I have always planted irises in each home we occupied. Being a little further south than Chicago, the iris bloom a week or two earlier than in my childhood home. I can’t help but be reminded of my early years with Dad and, sure enough, as I glanced out the window late last week, our irises were starting to bloom in all their glorious colors. Purples came out first, followed by several blues, then yellow and finally the white ones. I just love it – as much for the memories as for the display of God’s magnificent creation.
Our verse for tonight comes from Matthew, the disciple of Jesus. He gives us the words of Jesus in Matthew 6:28-33, “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
My encouragement this evening is that God wants us to trust Him for our provision. Jesus wants us to seek Him and depend on Him for all our needs. My prayer is that we will trust God with our deepest concerns and seek the kingdom of God here on earth. Enjoy the race and all the wonders of Earth that God has created for us to experience. Have a great day in the Lord, grace and peace…