EVEN HEROES PRAY IS THE TITLE OF THIS PICTURE

I would hope "even heroes pray". I would hope we all pray. Scripture commands us to pray continuously. To pray unceasingly. About all matters.

In the photo, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. is praying before a race. It reminds me of a poster I had displayed in my room at the high school. When I taught English, my classroom didn't much look like the walls of the traditional English classroom. St. Louis Cardinals pictures or stadium giveaways, St. Louis Rams pictures and memorabilia, pictures of my students from a school or local paper were autographed and hung, plus a poster of race car driver Jeff Gordon.

Now I know next to nothing about NASCAR and its appeal, except that it is big. Jeff Gordon's rival was Dale, Sr. Thus, the picture caused a little controversy.

"How come you got a poster of Gordon up there? What's wrong with Earnhardt?" I'd get asked from time to time.

My response,"You know, I'm not really a racing fan, but I know Jeff Gordon's a Christian, so that's why I put him up there." It was a good way to witness, at least a little in a public school.

And students' feelings were strong about their heroes. But after they understood why I displayed it, there were no grumbles, no defacing, just acceptance.

Maybe had I researched more I would have found that Dale, Sr, too was a Christian. I hope he was and I'm glad to see his son, a hero, praying. I'd have this pictured blown up and displayed prominently next to Jeff Gordon if I still had my classroom.