Everybody wants to get lucky. Everyone would love for something that they greatly desire to just appear in front of them. We all would like for things to just fall from Heaven, or for someone to simply hand it to us. “Why, what a joy it would be if ONLY I had this ONE thing!”  Well, this is the story of how that exact thing happened to me at the United States Formula 1 Grand Prix in Austin, Texas.

The Honest Prayer and the Deep Desire

In October of 2022 I went to Austin to see my youngest sister, Leslie. It had been too long since we had seen each other. I planned on making my visit right on the weekend of the USA Formula 1 Grand Prix. I am a huge Formula 1 fan, and lots of fun things always happen in Austin during the F1 weekend. It’s fun to go out and see what cool things we might stumble upon.

This particular weekend, though, I didn’t want to think about what cool things might happen to us. I just wanted to be able to enjoy the weekend. The last time I had gone to visit my sister I had been suffering from depression. I had a breakdown while I had been there the year prior, and I didn’t want that to happen again. I didn’t want to ruin a good time.

My plan was to spend as much time with my sister as possible. I just wanted to do whatever she wanted to do. My prayer was that this weekend would be a good weekend for my sister and me. Still, I had the desire in me to get as close to the Formula 1 action as possible. Little did I know that God would answer both of my prayers in that one weekend.

The Start to the Formula 1 Weekend from Heaven

It all started on the morning of the drive from Arkansas to Austin. It’s a 9 hour drive from my hometown, so before I got going I stopped to get some coffee. My friend Jade was at the coffee shop. We chatted for a bit and I told her that I was going to Austin. She excitedly asked if we would be going to the race. I told her “No… But, we’ll see!”

A few hours into the drive I got a text from Leslie. One of her friends was selling some tickets for the race. She wanted to go, and, of course, so did I. But, after mulling it over in my head for a while, I decided that I didn’t have the money for the tickets. They are expensive. Plus you have to pay for the shuttles and the food. It just didn’t make sense. 

Besides, if we did commit to buy those tickets, then we would be forced to be at the event the whole weekend. That might not have been the best quality time with my sister. With that goal in mind, we decided to take it easy. We planned to stay at home and cook some meals, we would  hang out with her friends, and we would go to church together. 

When I made it to Austin we decided to go to Trader Joe’s. We went to get all the food we would use to cook some amazing meals. And, of course, some wine and snacks. In the store we were dancing with each other and we were chatting with everyone. It was a great start to my weekend. We were so happy to see each other and we were having a great time. What more could I have asked for?

Williams Racing for the Win!

We were driving out of the Trader Joe’s parking lot in Downtown Austin when Leslie suggested “Hey let’s drive around and see what we see.” I thought it was a great idea! So, we took a loop through downtown Austin and eventually ended up driving up the popular Congress Avenue towards the State Capitol. 

As we were driving I spotted a Williams Racing themed building and I got really excited. Leslie pointed out that it might be a pop-up shop, so we decided to check it out. We parked and we walked to the venue. As we were waiting to cross the street we talked with two guys wearing Williams gear. I started chatting with them about what races they had been to. They told us that this was their first event, but that they had already taken pictures with the whole Haas team and even the Williams drivers.

I was shocked and definitely jealous. I’ve never gotten to meet any of the drivers, and I’ve definitely always wanted to. The two guys excitedly told us about a raffle that the Williams pop-up was doing. Apparently we could get the chance to score tickets to a Williams afterparty with a DJ. The worth of the tickets supposedly being $300 each. 

Leslie and I walked into the Williams themed building and right at the entrance they had a promotional Formula 1 replica car on display. I stared at it for a long time. I’m such a fan of this sport, and I was so grateful to be this close to the action. The whole space was like a store complete with merch, photo booths, racing simulators, and even reaction tests. 

A Crazy Turn of Events

There were posters with QR codes everywhere so that visitors could sign up for their app to enter the raffle. I tried to enter the raffle, but the app wasn’t working for me. The app didn’t work for Leslie either, so we just walked around looking at the different displays that they had. And then a very curious thing happened.

For some reason, I made my way to the checkout desk. The lady behind the counter greeted me cheerfully. I sheepishly said “Hi”, knowing that I wasn’t going to buy anything. I couldn’t afford anything! Still, I made small talk about the Formula 1 race.

She quickly let me know of the raffle they had going on, and I let her know that I had heard about it. She then asked me if I had been to the race. I responded by sharing about how passionate I am about Formula 1. I told her that I love the sport, and that I have been following it since Hamilton’s rookie year in 2007.

Somehow in the conversation she asked if I would be interested in some tickets. I laughed, and said “Sure! How much are they?” She smiled and said, “Oh you can have them! Are you here with someone else? Do you have people you can take to the party?” 

Stunned, I replied that I was there with my sister. Leslie came over and greeted the lady. When she got informed about the offer, though, she became just as stunned as I was. The lady at the counter once more asked how many tickets we would want. We queasily said “Four?” I knew Leslie and I were feeling the same thing: “Is that too much to ask?”

An Answered Prayer

With a bright smile, she handed us four tickets to attend the Williams Live party that we had just heard about. Ecstatic and shocked we accepted the tickets. We were so joyful, after saying “Thank You!” multiple times, we stepped a few feet away so we could jump and have a mini celebration. Are you kidding me?! Our night was totally made, and our weekend had just become so much more exciting!

Suddenly, the Williams lady approached us again. She was holding something small in her hand. With her bright smile she said “I have a proposal. How would you guys like 3-day general admission passes to the race?” She opened her hand and revealed two black and gold bracelet passes. If the last thing she had done had us stunned, this time we were floored. Leslie replied with an emphatic “Are you serious? Yeah! Yeah! You’re amazing! You are so kind!”

I stood there in silence just feeling overwhelmed, almost in tears. Leslie hugged the lady and I just told her how grateful I was. I told her that Leslie began to enjoy Formula 1 because of me, but that she had never been to a race. We thanked her again, and when she walked away Leslie and I just stared at each other in disbelief.

Big Gifts in Small Moments

I don’t know how many times that lady had done this that day. Maybe she’d been doing it all week. For me, though, this was something truly special.

I often think that God isn’t concerned with the small things. Why would the mighty God care about small things like this? Especially those related to my petty interests! Yet, my life is full of special moments that matter to no one except to me. Those special moments are such a reminder that God does care, and that God does make a difference with me. I am special, because He says so, and these special moments show it. 

The Formula 1 Weekend

What’s the point of accepting a gift and never using it? We were given tickets to go to the Formula 1 race! And we got tickets to go to the Williams Live party! 

That Friday night we headed back to Downtown and went to that Williams Live party along with two of Leslie’s friends. DJ Cassidy (the same guy who was the DJ at Jay-Z and Beyonce’s wedding) was the main entertainment. He also had a few other celebrities perform. But I was over the moon by the fact that Formula 1 World Champion, Jenson Button, was there, along with the 2022 Team Principal Jost Capito. I GOT TO PARTY WITH A FORMULA ONE CHAMPION!

Saturday morning greeted us with a bright blue sky. We got to the racetrack just in time to watch the cars go out for FP3. It was glorious. Leslie shouted “They’re right there!” Yes! The 20 best drivers in the world were right in front of us, driving their $15 million machines. 

After FP3 we got to watch two vintage McLarens drive around the track. The sound they produced could only be matched by a dragon going out to war. We finished the day at the track by watching a very satisfying Qualifying session. And Sunday was an equally gorgeous day for a race in Austin. What a weekend!

God is Always Listening

Our weekend did include home cooked meals. We also got to watch a movie with my sister’s roommates, we got dinner with her friends twice, we got coffee, and we got to catch up. We also got to play sports, we got ice cream, and we even got to go dancing at an art gallery with some of her friends. All of that happened with no depressive episodes. I got the weekend with my sister that I wanted, AND, it had also been the Formula 1 weekend from Heaven. 

My heart was full. Not because I had gotten to go see the Formula 1 race, but because all of my prayers had been answered.

I never actually prayed that God would bless us with tickets. I didn’t even pray that we would come close to the racing event. But God knew that my heart desired that so much. This isn’t the first time that something like this has happened. It’s happened before. 

I used to want to see the midnight sun in Iceland. I used to want to live in front of the Rhine river. God made both of those things happen. It’s crazy that I forget that God listens. God always listens. He listened to my heart, and he answered. He doesn’t always answer, but when he does answer it is astonishing. 

• P.S. If any of you want to go with me to the next race, just say the word and I’ll be there!

I hope this story is encouraging to you. If you know somebody that you think this might be encouraging to as well, go ahead and share it with them!