The Race

3 . . . 2 . . . 1 . . . race!

We had our first experience with the Pinewood Derby this year. As I've shared before (17 Years and Counting . . .), Kaden joined the Cub Scouts recently. We had a day at a local farm with another troop where we cut our car out of a block of wood. We sanded it down, painted it (with red racing stripes, of course), and even filed down the nails that hold the wheels on.

We brought our treasured creation home, intending to finish building it, but it sat . . . and sat . . . and sat.

Finally, the day before the race, we struggled to put the wheels on and weighed the car. (We didn't have a small scale at home, so I sent Scott and Kaden to Food Lion with the car, wheels, and assorted change in order to weigh them on the produce scale. Kaden held an apple, pretending that was what they were weighing.) We attached as much change as we could with duck tape to get as close as possible to the 5 ounce weight limit. This was serious business.

When we got to the mall the day of the big race, I was a little nervous for Kaden. Someone has to lose these races, right? I tried to prepare Kaden for the worst-case scenario. 

"Kaden, you know you might not win, right?" 

His reaction surprised me.

He said, "Oh, I'm pretty sure I won't win since this is my first time and all. My only goal is to not come in last place."

They raced in heats of four cars at a time. I have no idea how they decided who raced against each other since their system didn't seem to make much sense, but eventually the final rankings came out.

Kaden's car had come in last in all four heats. I had a feeling he was going to be pretty disappointed.

They read the results, starting with last place.

#14 . . . It wasn't Kaden! Surprise, surprise!

#13 . . . Kaden Randlett!

Oh boy. I approached Kaden cautiously, wondering how he would react. 

He beamed at me, saying, "Well, I accomplished my goal! I finished second to last!"

I couldn't believe it! All he cared about was following the instructions in making the car, following the race rules, and not being last.

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful." ‭2 Timothy‬ ‭4‬:‭7‬ (NLT)

Kaden's attitude lines up with Scripture more than mine often does. I am competitive. I like to win.

I want to take a page from Kaden's book. I want to follow the instructions -- God's Word, the Bible. And I want to follow the rules -- to remain faithful. There is no placement as long as we fight, finish, and remain faithful.