Remember when we were young, a friend would come over to the house and say to our parents, “Can [insert your name] come out and play?” Playing is something we all cherished in our youth, and now we see this unfold with our kids and grandkids, too…all these years flew…hope you took your kids to the races, park, and zoo…parents have a preeminent view.

In reality, growing up in the 1950s was indeed “Happy Days.” I honestly believe those days were the happiest and best days of the entire 20^th century. Life was good. Life was easy. As a kid during those days, you could almost do whatever you wanted, and your parents were not worried about you. It was a safe time to grow up in. Today most people have no idea what it was like growing up in that era…life was clear and wholesome like the mountains named Sierra…boys’ abrasions back then only needed some aloe vera…little girls didn’t need mascara…life was tranquil like living on the French Riviera.  

This happy life of playing consisted of football, baseball, basketball, hide-and-seek, kick-the-can, swimming, riding your bicycle— maybe to the races—or simply hanging out with your best buddies. You could walk almost anywhere, at any time of the day or night, and it was safe. We learned reading, writing, and arithmetic, using our head (and fingers) to figure out most situations, which were pretty unpretentious compared to today’s world.

We played with simple things, whatever we had was a cherished item, and life was uncomplicated. We were just kids in those days. We did what kids do, not what adults do. There was no pressure to become anything but a child growing up in a peaceful land…life wasn’t bland…loved playing in the sand…we were always tanned…not much was banned…watched American Bandstand…envied any deckhand…life was lived in the city and the heartland…with many of us eventually wearing God’s eternal wristband.

In the racing world, we get to see our friends come into view on a playground to play and race at the same time. IHBA announcer Rick Carlson used to say, “It’s time for the big boys to come out and play,” referring to the Top Fuel Hydros. We knew what he meant when he said it’s time to play. It was time to get a good place to watch as the racers are going to play their game…thousands of wild horses not easy to tame…maybe seeking a little notoriety or fame…nitromethane makes the power but the outcome is not always the same…some motor parts they did maim…but that’s what it takes to be in the big-league racing game.

Getting ready for some fast and furious nitro-racing action, the playground would then turn into a battleground as the machines would prepare for battle…your ears would rattle…some folks may babble…in the three-second zone they’d dabble…with 11,000 horsepower no need for a paddle…the starter’s hand begins to waggle…the crew’s hearts and minds are set in motion like a game of Scrabble…as much as we love racing and life, God says eventually in our earthly race, one day we’ll all have to skedaddle.

A racetrack is a playground filled with expensive toys, but once the competitors line up against one another and the starting system is activated, the playground becomes a battleground for a few seconds. When the battle is over, it’s back to the pit area playground for some serious playing and planning, while getting ready for the next battle out on the track.

Being a racing fan for more than six decades and a chaplain for more than three decades, I have witnessed some incredible battles on the racetrack playgrounds and plenty of battlegrounds away from the track, too. Scores of championship battles, quite a few life-or-death battles, and many emotional, physical, and spiritual battles as well…so we can honestly tell…some attitudes we tried to quell…by sharing God’s free gift, with nothing to sell.

The racing playground – be it a lake or a river, a half-mile dirt track, an asphalt or cement drag strip, a huge banked oval, or a thousand-mile stretch of Mexican desert –  is always a fun place to be, whether you’re a racer, spectator, sponsor, or chaplain. It’s a playground you love entering, just like your favorite amusement park. Drivers are the fortunate ones, as they get the E-Ticket Ride at the playground, while the rest of us watch in awe as the battles take place.

Racing is infectious, and this infection can be caught out on the playground or battleground simply by being there. Once you get infected there may not be a cure…one thing for sure…racing has a serious lure… at times racing may be pure…while out on tour…a win you can never assure…in racing there’s always an allure…hoping to become savvy and mature…learning that hanging out with Christ is the only way to eternally endure.

Life is similar to a playground. Like an innocent child, it’s okay to be happy and joyful most of the time. It’s okay not to want to grow up too soon. It’s okay to have fun at home or on the playground. It’s okay to have a great time at the racetrack…you’ll want to come back…getting up at dawn’s first crack…once you learn the knack…wanting to be the leader of the pack…on the lights you want to be sharp as a tack…championships you’d love to win back-to-back…when seriously seeking God you’ll always get His everlasting feedback.

The Bible says we must become as little children to inherit the kingdom of God. This means we must accept the T.R.U.T.H., The Real Understanding To Heaven, found in Christ and God’s Word through the simple faith of a little child believing God’s eternal message of hope.     

Earth’s first race was in a garden playground, a race for who could make it perfectly to the finish line with the Lord. The race in that playground—The Garden of Eden—lasted for who knows how long but ended with a disqualification. The second race was contested outside of the garden playground, and now two kids were the driving force, and this race ended up as a disaster too: That first disqualification, in that once-beautiful playground, led to a future bloody battleground, with one competitor: a brother defeating [killing] the other brother.

Thus, the battleground in the race for eternity became a bloody mess, in life, death, and sacrifice, and at first thought, there was no clear winner. “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ,” (Ephesians 2:13). Now the world’s race would have a new goal, a new finish line, and a new Champion. The new goal was not who could perform the best and win, but who could obey by humbly surrendering their pride and accept the eternal prize offered from the Playground Owner’s Son.  

Blood was shed in yet another battle, but it was the Son’s blood on the battleground of Calvary, in the town of Jerusalem, in the land of Israel. The battle raged for three years before the Victor accomplished His goal of defeating death by rising from the dead and granting eternal life to all who believed in Him…winners receiving two prizes: His crown of life—life in Jesus on earth—and the promise of being in His presence in the life to come.

Racing in this darkened world is not always safe and the risk is multiplied…you or your hot rod could crash or get fried…no matter how hard you tried…awkwardly steering your ride…you may end up in a back slide…so make sure you’re always on Christ’s side.

Like a darkroom where film is developed, God’s battleground can be the place where He develops you into the image of His Son. His playground becomes the entire world, where you can develop your own Christ-like characteristics on your personal training ground…either sitting in church or standing around…eventually residing on Heaven’s eternal holy ground.

Racing, for some, can seemingly provide a safe haven for your body and soul, as we’re told to anchor ourselves in the Gospel of eternal peace. We’re told to wear God’s race suit of sacred armor for protection in life’s spiritual battles. We’re told always to be prepared on the playground or battleground to give an answer for the hope we have in Christ and heaven.

In reality, planet earth was created as a playground where humans could safely live, play, grow, and race for free, but with restrictions numbering 1…only worship the eternal Holy One…while we’re living, playing, racing, and having fun…some are programmed early-on to make a speedy run…driving fast is a thrill, bar none…life with God we should never shun…we’re saved by the eternal Son…without Christ your eternity in heaven is undone…for whoever is on God’s championship team, the battle has already been won.