Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Tuesday August 1, 2006

It seems like only yesterday but it was at least 45 years ago that I was drag racing at Cecil County Dragoway. What a time and what a waste of $$$. Yet I had fun. Joyce and I weren't married yet, and you should know that the little sweetie now known around the globe as The Great Blonde, worked as time keeper in the tower. To say that old Gramps here has some very good elapsed time cards is well, I had better leave it there.

During the time of my youthful finding my way, a car that raced under the name of "Old Reliable" was the favorite of the Drag Strips in that area. It was a white 1962 Chevy, factory worked and then shipped for other improvements. It would get down the track in a hurry, or at least most way down the track prior to a loud bang and puff of smoke. The tow truck brought Old Reliable back to the pits more often than she was driven back. Were loved the old girl just that same.

I know a lot of folks like that Chevy. They sure look good and make tons of noise, having the equivalent of 'spiritual headers' and sure take off fast, burning rubber half way down the quarter mile course. And then, and then, poof. Blown feelings, exploding clutch causing loss of grip on reality, a piston coming through the block due to a lack of lubricant getting to the crank, or horror of horrors, getting out of the correct lane!

You get the idea.

The War Horse of the British Empire, Sir Winston Churchill wrote:

"The price of greatness is responsibility."

Battles, races, drag or otherwise, ball games are not won on the bases of what you can do. Each of these must be won on the bases of present performance. Last week's record time means absolutely nothing this week. Courage at the battle of the Coral Sea has nothing to do with the battle you are facing today.

For today's purpose surely you will accept that responsibility and reliability are interchangeable. Taking responsibility for the proper building, and driving of any race car or the person involved in any undertaking increases the probability of winning. Therefore, I, Larry Lilly, noted failure take the liberty of paraphrasing Sir Winnie:

"The price of greatness is RELIABILITY."

"Old Reliable" never lived up to its name.

By the grace of God, purchased by Christ and distributed by The Holy Ghost, we, you and I can move from the ranks "who did run well" and blew up or just quit, into the ranks of those souls known as "Reliable." celebrated in the City Celestial. The choice is ours.

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2006 Use with credit.

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