On Your Mark, Get Set, GO!

There were children running around all over the place.  The excitement mounted as little pine wood cars were each in turn weighed, greased and final touches were completed on the cars. 

Boys in blue Cub Scout shirts were everywhere comparing cars, and doing mock races on the ground while waiting for the real race to start.

Tonight was Droid’s Cub Scout pine wood derby. 

I would love to say that he worked hard on his car, but… he didn’t.  He did sketch out the design of it, and help spray a couple coats of paint on it, but mostly it was Doc’s handy work.  Last year Droid took a much more central role in the creation of his car, but unfortunately this year he wasn’t as into it… which is surprising because for the past 2 years in a row his cars have taken “Best in Show” for the coolest designed car, and he’s always finished in the top 5.  Last year he took 2^nd place… although he was jiped on a couple bad calls… he would have had first… but that’s not what really matters.

This year once again his car did a great job.  He tied for 4^th place out of 15 cars. 

Not too shabby.

It was so much fun watching the cars race down the track, and hearing the boys cheer for each other.  In the end we all cheered for the winners, but that wasn’t really why we came. 

We came to see the accomplishments of the boys hard work (or their father’s), and cheer for each other’s little cars.  There was a great feeling of good sportsmanship and friendship between all the boys and I couldn’t help think that the world would be a better place if we all treated each other like these cub scouts do each other.

They admired each other’s different and totally unique cars.  They encouraged each other and slapped each other on the back after a close race.

If one car didn’t win as many races the boys made sure to compliment the owner on the cars design and how cool it looked. 

I’m going to take this lesson from the derby and remember to treat my children, friends, neighbors and all I meet with this sort of attitude.  This life can feel like a race.  Everyone feels competitive and wants to win so bad, but in the process they miss out on appreciating the uniqueness of all those around them that they feel they are racing against.  There are some pretty cool people all around us… we just have to take a closer look at the details that make up the person.