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History in the Making
August 4, 2012
By Pastor Tim Richards
History is being made this week as thousands compete in the Olympics. During thousands of events there will be only a few monumental moments that go down in history. Author, Bud Greenspan, wrote about some from past Olympics in his, 100 Greatest Moments in Olympic History. I want to share one from the 1992 Games in Barcelona.
Derek Redmond was one of Great Britain’s athletes thought likely to win a medal. He was scheduled to race on August third in the semi-final round of the 400 meters. He and seven others prepared for the race but none realized a great moment in Olympic history was about to happen. When the gun sounded they began.
There was nothing unusual about the race until Redmond was nearly half-way through and suddenly his right hamstring let out a loud pop. While the other runners finished, Redmond found himself torn between the incredible pain that had enveloped his body and his intense desire to finish. When medics arrived with a stretcher to carry him from the track he waved them away refusing to give in to the searing pain that demanded he stop.
Redmond’s father watching from the stands quickly realized something was very wrong. He pushed past security guards and made his way onto the track where he found his weeping son still trying to hold himself together to finish his race. He comforted him, “Look, you don’t have to do this.” Redmond replied: “Yes I do.” “Well,” his father said, “if you’re going to finish this race, we’ll finish it together.” And so, locking his arm around him, Jim Redmond helped his injured son complete the race he had been expected to win. He finally crossed the finish line to wild cheering from a stadium full of admirers.
Only the most devoted sports fans know the name of the runner who crossed the finish line first that night, but tens of millions still remember the last runner to finish the race with the help of his dad.
No one’s race ever goes quite the way we imagine it. Some are now facing pain they never imagined possible and feel abandoned, confused and downright scared. If that describes you; may I remind you that God frequently pictures Himself as a Father.
If you presently find yourself tempted to give up and go home allow me to suggest that you call out to the Father who’s always watching and always willing to help. Why not invite Him to put His arm around you and help you continue your race? Accepting His help to make it to the finish line and beyond can change the trajectory of your life even more than Redmond’s father’s help changed his life that night so long ago in Barcelona.
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