Flirting with Disaster

“Flirting With Disaster — And the Power of Simple Things Done Well”

Hey team — I want to share a quick devotional today that connects racing with our walk with Christ and our role as leaders at the track.

If you’ve ever strapped into a race car—or honestly just driven on the I17 at rush hour—you know something: danger is always nearby.

 In racing, disaster doesn’t announce itself. It hides in the blind spots, sits in the marbles, and waits for that one moment when your focus slips.

And life works the exact same way.

Most spiritual “disasters” don’t come from big, dramatic moments. They come from seasons where we quietly drift from the basics that keep us grounded.

1. How We Drift — Without Even Noticing

As veteran racers - we’re leading, serving, influencing, and growing — all at the same time. When life gets busy, it’s incredibly easy to start “flirting with disaster” spiritually, not by doing anything dramatic, but simply by drifting:

• Skipping prayer • Skimming Scripture • Running on our own strength • Serving on empty • Letting distractions take over • Telling ourselves, “I’ll get back on track later”

Just like in racing, a drift off your line rarely feels dramatic at first — but the consequences come fast.

Our identity, though, isn’t in our performance. “Our value comes not from what we do, but from Whose we are.”

**2. Being Successful Isn’t Complicated

It’s Doing Simple Things Well**

Colossians 3:23 reminds us: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord…”

Think about racing:

• Hit your marks • Keep the car in 1 piece • Trust the process • Be situationally aware

Great drivers win because they master the basics.

It’s the same with following Jesus.

Spiritual strength comes from simple things: • Being in God’s Word - Asking “Lord, what do you want me to learn from this reading?” • Praying every day • Worship • Serving • Consistency

Nothing flashy. Nothing complicated.Just faithfulness. Simple things done daily become powerful over time.

3. Don’t Ignore the Warning Lights

Psalm 18:16 says: “He reached down… and rescued me.”

God doesn’t rescue us only from big, dramatic moments —He rescues us from slow drift too.

But we have to notice the warning lights: • No margin • Exhaustion • Loss of joy • Spiritual dryness • Constant distraction

These aren’t random. They’re God saying:  “Let Me tune you up. Come back close to Me.”

Just like a race car can’t run a full season without repair and maintenance, we can’t lead well without spiritual maintenance either.

CLOSING

You don’t need to live life at redline. You don’t need to flirt with disaster.  You don’t need to run spiritually on fumes.

God has given you a simple, steady path to strength: Do the simple things well and consistently and Stay spiritually tuned up.  

(The pictures are from a recent crash of the club car at the Radford School)