The Power of Now: A Tribute and Reflection

NEW! Sharing both color and black & white photos.

This week’s Spark takes a more reflective tone than previous posts. Last Thursday, I was shocked to learn of the sudden and tragic passing of NASCAR driver Kyle Busch—a fierce competitor and champion in the racing world. He was just 41, leaving behind a wife and two young children, ages 11 and 4.

Only days earlier, at the Dover, Delaware race on May 15th, Kyle had won the Truck Series race. When a reporter asked him after the race, “Why don’t these moments get old?” Kyle thoughtfully replied, “Because you never know when the last one is, you know?” Just six days later, he was gone.

Kyle’s deep love for his family was evident in countless news stories and heartfelt videos showing him cherishing time with his wife and children. Since his passing, so many kind words have been written in his honor, including an especially moving statement by Dale Earnhardt Jr. These tributes speak volumes about the kind of person Kyle was, both on and off the track. I’ve included Dale’s statement below.

​This heartbreaking loss is a powerful reminder not to take a single day for granted.

*** Hold your loved ones close, tell them you love them every chance you get, and don’t put off doing what matters most to you. None of us is guaranteed tomorrow; all we truly have is today. ***

As we reflect on this heartbreaking loss, and on this Memorial Day, let’s remember and honor those who gave everything for our freedoms—and let’s cherish the moments and people we have today.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s statement.
“Kyle and I had a really challenging existence for many years,” Earnhardt Jr. wrote. “But we luckily took the time to figure out our differences and that was something he instigated with a conversation in his bus around how we each managed our racing teams. I was super eager for us to get on better terms. But it was he who made the effort for that to be possible. We did some media together also to laugh through some of the things we put each other through many years ago.”