Sunday evening wasn’t the same without having The Amazing Race to watch.  I haven’t ever enjoyed watching that show as I did with this last season’s brood.  And it’s all because of the cowboys.  Oh my gravy – they made the entire show a joy to watch.  Their attitude, their reactions and responses (or the lack thereof) – they made the show.  Their integrity was so attractive and never once wavered.  It was a breath of fresh air to see two people with such a consistent positive attitude.

In the New Testament Jesus says, ‘the first shall be last and the last shall be first.’  While watching the last episode of the race, there is a point where the cowboys are waiting for their last flight. One team of the three finalists is ahead of them, while the third comes in later.  The cowboys’ luggage is right behind the teams’ luggage who is in first place, though the cowboys are standing a few feet from it.  The third place team comes into the terminal and one of its team members steps in front of the cowboys’ bags, stating something to the effect that the cowboys weren’t really in line, so they (the third place team) had every right to be there.  Not.

In the whole scheme of things, it most likely didn’t matter when you look at the big picture.  But, it did matter.  It was rude, it was
wrong, and if they had been in high school in the lunch line and the logistics were similar within the character types, that choice most likely would have been grounds for a fight.  The cowboys, however, remained cool and were probably muttering, ‘Oh my gravy.’

I sometimes wonder when watching that show, how I would react to certain situations.  Would my flesh and competitive spirit (and it can be strong) get in the way and any testimony I have to God’s mercy and grace be lost in one second because I have to win?   On ordinary days in life, do I outdo others so that I come across as ‘the best’?  Do I do things or say things a certain way for attention?  All of these being a part of the ‘me first’ mentality?  I know I have.  But I don’t want to.  I’m like Paul, the apostle, who said, “For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.”

I want to be that person (or America’s favorite cowboys) who keeps their cool and knows that when my race is finished, I ran with integrity and grace, whether I came in first or last.  I want to be that person that says, “Go on ahead.  I don’t mind if I don’t win the million dollars.  What matters most is you.” (Yeah, right.)  Seriously, I hope that my integrity stays intact under pressure.  That my choices would align with my desire to be Christ-like.  I would hope that my focus would not be what I can gain here on earth, but the prize that awaits at heaven’s throne.

Oh my gravy – won’t that be the ultimate end to an amazing race?

To read up on how Jet and Cord are using their second place prizes, click here!