The Biggest race in Nascar

I am sitting here in my house watching the Bud Shoot Out. It is the first race of the 2009 NASCAR season. I think it is a cool race but weird since it is a race that determines the number one starting position (the pole) for the Daytona 500.
Two Octobers ago (2007) I had the opportunity to drive by a portion of the Daytona track. Well, we drove near one of the corners and I was excited.
The Daytona is the biggest race for the cup drivers of the year. I haven't figured out why they chose to run the first race of the year as the most important one.
But we can learn alot about our Christian lives from the race.
You see, every team works all winter to get ready to race. They work on everything, the car's design, engine, paint scheme, tires and tire changing. They practice pits, fueling the car, and many more things and it all comes down to a race. We, church attendees sit in our pews or comfy chairs every weekend, worshipping, listening and given the opportunity to grow as a Christ-follower, all to equip us for the big race. Some people race takes place at school, college, work or at home but we all are ready to win.
Then life happens. We have a situation that upsets our team, that distracts us from the race God has in store for us on Monday. Then we have to progress to Tuesday and so on.
I am learning that we need to get fueled on Sunday and look for opportunities from God to witness (WIN the race) to those around us. We so often think we have to reach those people or some far reaching people group who has not heard of Christ, which we do but I am feeling convicted that we should be witnessing, loving and sharing with those who attend school, college, work or live with. Yes, I am confident that God is just asking us to witness to those who we live life with each and everyday.
Much like those teams competing in the Bud shoot out tonight, we are on a mission to win, maybe not win a pole position but to win lives who are lost and God has placed them directly in our paths everyday to witness to.
I am challenged to influence those I see everyday. What about you?