GOD'S ROSE OF SHARON

"THE INTIMIDATOR" Dale Earnhardt 1951-2001

"The winner ain't the one with the fastest car, it's the one who refuses to lose." Dale Earnhardt



On the morning of February 18th 2001 stock car racing was waking up to an new era. Though no one realized it at the time, their world would be completely different in less than twenty four hours.
This was racing biggest event, their Super Bowl in terms of it’s magnitude. As the bright Florida sun rose over Daytona Beach that early Sunday morning the chill of the night before quickly faded away. Today, destiny would hold another fate for one of racing's greatest driver’s and his story is one of both the bitter and the sweet.


Dale Earnhardt Sr. was about to get into his black number three Chevrolet for the last time. Who knew as he kissed his wife Teresa goodbye and strapped himself in that it would be the last kiss they would ever share? Just one year before Earnhardt had won his sports greatest event, the Daytona 500. After twenty years of frustration, victory was suddenly his alone on the two and a half mile oval track. That would be the sweet I mentioned earlier. Now on this bright Sunday morning the bitter was about to be tasted.


Faith has always been a big part of NASCAR. Let’s face it, it’s not like a job were your security and safety is not always guaranteed. On this fateful morning a Bible Scripture was taped on the dashboard of Earnhardt’s number three car.



"The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe." Proverb’s 18: 10


I always imagined that this Scripture was the last thing he looked at before that fatal moment where he left us that day. How appropriate that this Scripture was given to him. A man is made up of many characteristics that sets him apart and makes him as unique as the God who created him. Sure Earnhardt had many traits Christian’s would consider "unchristian." We all do is my point. Dale ran to his high and strong tower that late afternoon and his righteousness was just like ours, we have none. Jesus Christ is our righteousness and strong tower and in its shadow we are forever safe.



"Finishing races is important, but racing is more important" Dale Earnhardt



Faith will see us to our destiny and this life’s finish lines. The important thing to remember is that we must live this life now and persevere. So as winter’s shadows became long and the sun set upon the Daytona speedway that late Sunday evening another lesson would be taught. As in racing and this life there are no guarantees but only to live life to it’s fullest and not being intimidated by our circumstance's.


Earnhardt taught us that lesson not by his words but through his actions.


James Robert Kessler 2007