After San Diego	PDF | Print | E-mail
Author: Ben Evans

This last weekend in San Diego I had a pretty crazy race. In my heat race I did not have the best of start because I wheeled, but I was riding well charging through. With only two or three laps to go in the heat race, I was around 11th place or so. I only knew because my mechanic, Kiwi, was giving me my position as a came around each lap. Coming around on the last lap, I saw that I was still around 10th at least I thought. What my mechanic did not realize was that two other riders went down and he was not getting anyone on the radio to tell him what place I was in. Turns out that I was really in 8th or 9th, which either one would have qualified me for the main event. I had no idea though, and went for a pretty aggressive pass on the last lap. I ended up taking both me and the other rider down on accident. I don’t think he realized how close I was to making a block pass on him and he drove into me. By the time I got up, everyone had gone by.

I now had to get ready for the last chance qualifier. This was the mountain I had to face for the weekend. It is actually much easier to make it into the main in the heat race. In the last chance qualifier they only take two riders. The race is only 4 laps and that means your start and everything has to be perfect. The lap times are less than a minute long, so the race flies by faster than a blink of an eye. It is so easy to defeat yourself before you even take action at problems in your life. For me, it was easy to think back earlier in the year when I had to go to the last chance and did not make it. We let the past dictate our future sometimes unconsciously. Whenever I am racing I have to keep in check what thoughts are going through my head. If you cannot see yourself winning in your mind, your body will not physically let you. Your mind, body, and spirit are all connected. I had to let go of my past and ask God for his peace that surpasses all understanding.

I think of Paul and Silas when they spend a night in jail. He relied on God and even in those horrible circumstances; he had peace and was thankful. So instead of heading out on the track with a negative spirit, I went out certain that I was going to win. Philippians 4:7 says, and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Mentally I was now ready to go out and win the last chance qualifier, so physically, I now made it possible. I went out and got an awesome start, and won the race. My encouragement to you would be to recognize what conversation is going on in your mind before you face a big problem in your life. Then ask for God’s peace and strength. With Him, you will be able conquer anything. I think living with Him is way better than walking alone and in fear. So be like Paul, where you will not be fearful even in the darkest hours!

Ben Evans #350