Every May, the Indianapolis 500 Motor Speedway is the highlight for visitors from all around the world. I remember taking time off from work to go to the track, or on weekends to qualifications. I’ve even attended the actual race a couple times. One year my friend had a company suite and that was by far the best way to watch the race! We had tons of food and drink with about 50 seats near the start/finish line. It was incredible. Other memories include what used to be called the “snake pit” and hanging out, enjoying the weather, throwing the Frisbee and relaxing. One year I met and got the autograph of Gene Hackman! And, of course, refreshments and watching the cars practice.
One year a couple buddies and I took a red wagon to carry our “supplies” to our seats in the third turn. We emptied the wagon, tied it to the fence and up we went to our seats. The next year we did the same thing, only there were a dozen other red wagons there also! The race, the experience of sights, sounds and people, is something everyone should experience.
From time to time just driving by the track is pretty incredible and I always wished I’d taken a drive around the track when they allowed that. This week the track and racing become the focus again, especially with the three airborne accidents that have already happened. We pray for a safe race and for the fans to enjoy the Greatest Spectacle in Racing!
The race, in all its glory, is not the reason for Memorial Day weekend obviously. The 500 race, just like family reunions, having a three-day weekend, picnics and travel are not the reason for the holiday either. While all those things are nice and important, it is even more so that we take time out to remember those who have gone before us. Especially all the men and women who died serving our country. In the national news this week another Marine died in a helicopter crash. Those serving our country didn’t just die years ago or wars ago. No, they are still dying even today. We remember and we give thanks, and we hold their families in our prayers. We are also thankful for our loved ones who have gone before us and Via de Cristo brothers and sisters entering their fifth day.
So as you and I rush around this weekend, have a lot of activities or no activities, take time off, go to the race or whatever we do let us remember and give thanks. We hold tightly to the promises of Jesus at the end of the Gospel of Matthew: “Remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age” ( 28: 20). God is with us in Christ, and that helps soften the loss of loved ones,
God bless you this week and for the Memorial Day holiday,
Pr. Doug
NLS Spiritual Director
Pastor Doug Givan
Chaplain
St. Vincent Hospital Clay
St. Vincent Seton Hospital, Indianapolis
“Encouraging words are like apples of gold in settings of silver” Proverbs 25:11
Eric is our current Webmaster and works on the NLS Communications Team. Raised in Judaism, he found Christ and the New Testament at age 16 in a Southern Baptist Church. He searched many denominations for the real church, only to find the Holy Spirit is present in all of them. He's worked for One for Israel, a group of native Israeli believers who are sharing the gospel in the holy land in Hebrew and is part of the only Hebrew speaking seminary in Israel.
