Demo Derby

Tonight was quite a night. Melissa and I traveled to the Jessamine County Fair (which is quite small) with our friends Chad and Meredith Brooks. We went, not for the food...or the rides...or the rip-off games on the "mid-way". We went, rather, for the demolition derby.

As we sat on the bleachers, I will have to say the most entertaining thing of the night was not the flinging of mud or the smashing of cars...but the people.

Allow me to delve into what could be a touchy area. In no way, shape, or form am I attempting to be degrading to anyone or any social class. But, I must say that this sort of event attracts a certain type of person. I can say this...because I was there...so...in a way...I am one of them. Some would call them "red-necks" while some would call them "white-trash". I do not advocate the using of either term...but the unfortunate fact is that by stating those two phrases, you probably know what I am trying to get across. I pray that my descriptions and phraseology does not offend anyone. If it does, I sincerely apologize as that is my last desire for this post...I am simply "over-stressing" things to make my point.

Although they do not live life as I do, or as I may think that they should, there are some things that we can learn from this "type" of person. They may not have fancy clothes, fancy cars, or a lot of money...but I think that I see in them something that many people lack. They have close relationships. Their families seem to be close and their friendships seem to be close.

Just by overhearing the conversations, one will notice that they sincerely love one another. Tonight, I heard a father who was proud of his pregnant daughter (not of her pregnancy but of her), a young woman who deeply cared for an entire family that she was not part of, and a small child who desired to be like his daddy as was obvious by his mimicking his dad's mannerisms and style of dress.

Maybe it is all the stuff (of which we do not have an abundance) that gets in the way of our building relationships. Maybe it is all the concern over having a nice car, nice house, nice clothes, etc. that makes it difficult to truly love one another. Maybe money gets in the way of love. Maybe there is more truth to the words of Christ than we know...

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." - Matt. 19:23-24