Just Stay In the Chariot

Charlton Heston liked to tell a story about the making of Ben-Hur:  Before they ever shot a foot of film, he and stunt master Yakima Canutt rehearsed with the chariots for the race that has gone in film history as a masterpiece of stunt action.  One day, while resting, Heston said to Canutt he was worried.  After all, he’d gotten the chariot down pat, but once they started filming, there were going to be seven other chariots around, and just how was he going to be able to stay in front?



Charlton Heston in Ben-Hur



Canutt grinned, and said, “Just stay in the chariot, Chuck.  I’ll see to it you win the race.” 

Recently Dad heard that story and immediately pointed out the spiritual implications of it.  And it’s true.  Our lives are races, and we have tendencies to ‘step out of chariot’ due to curiosity.  (Anyone who knows their phrases knows what happened to the cat!)  If you’ve seen Ben-Hur—and if you haven’t you should—knows what happens to someone who steps out of their chariot in the midst of a race.  It’s not pretty.  We need to follow our path, which is bumpy, as a chariot has no shock absorbers, the wheels don’t turn, and has no modern convenience but you know what?  It gets us there.

And if we listen to Him, God is going to see to it we win the race.

So stay in your chariot and follow the path to the finish.  The laurels are worth it.  Ben-Hur won his race.  Let’s triumph in ours.