The bumping and grinding was getting out of control, even for a stock car race. You could see tire marks on the doors of cars that refused to move left or right. Pieces of front and rear bumpers were mysteriously staying together despite repeated taps from those not willing to wait. Each marked an encounter where someone was trying to control another. The caution flags came out as one car after another was tapped on the left rear corner and spun into the wall.
Depending on your views of the drivers and their actions, it was either beautiful or terribly ugly. At the time the driver I was rooting for was out front, so I watched the carnage behind in wonder. A certain amount of contact was ok, but had this gone too far?
The race finished with a surprise winner (not my guy). I initially thought the action was over but as the cars circled the track one more time before heading to the pits there was more bumping and grinding! At one point, two competitors took turns as pushing each other into the wall, making the feelings clear. The exchange continued after they got out of their cars. This was not settled.
As a watched from twelve time zones away, I wondered what each was thinking. I could imagine that the initial thought went something like this; “Don’t you see what they’re doing, God? You’re not going to let them get by with it, are you? Not going to walk off without doing something, are you?” (Psalm 35.22)
Step forward, another incident, God has not acted in the way desired, so each took control. As the commentators replayed the incidents, you could see the pattern repeat again and again. As I watched I realized that I am not that different. I want action! I want things to go fairly, which means I win. If God is not going to act, I will. If nobody will fight for me, I will fight.
I think it is about control and winning. I forget. God already won.
