“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift. Settle matters quickly with your adversary.” Matthew 5:23- 25

Making It Right

NASCAR Sprint Cup Driver Darrell Waltrip is well known for his Christian faith, but it was sorely challenged in 1996 at the chapel service at Phoenix International Speedway.

In the two previous weeks, fellow driver Ricky Craven had wrecked Waltrip, denying him badly needed top five finishes. Darrell’s bother Michael had been asked to lead the prayer in chapel, only to wake up with laryngitis. On the way from the driver’s meeting to chapel, Michal asked his brother to fill in for him. Darrell saw no problem with this until he stood to pray.

There on the front row sat Craven. Waltrip paused, stared at Craven, and then asked Craven to join him at the microphone. Stunned, Craven did so and Waltrip put his arm around his shoulders. Then, Waltrip confessed to all 400 in attendance that he had wanted to strangle Craven for two weeks, but realized he could not hold his anger against him and pray at the same time. Waltrip asked Craven to forgive him, and Craven confessed it was his fault. They hugged and cried, then Waltrip offered the prayer as they stood embraced.

Are you uttering words to God, while holding bitterness toward someone? Make it right, before your next prayer.

—RON PEGRAM

(photo credit: Ted Van Pelt)