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Olympic spirit
'... Stand firm. Let nothing move you ...' 1 Corinthians 15:58
Sally Gunnell, Linford Christie, Steve Redgrave all won gold at the 1992 Olympics; but it was an athlete called Derek Redmond who defined the Olympic spirit that year, even though he finished last in his heat.
Barcelona '92 was going to be his year and yet with just 175 metres to go, he felt an explosion of pain in his leg and he collapsed. Tears ran down his cheek as he realised a dream was over. But as the medical stretchers pull up by this lame athlete, something special happens.
In a moment that will etched in millions of minds forever, Redmond hobbles the remainder of the track's bend. As approaches the final straight, his father and trainer, Jim Redmond, joins him. Together, father and son, cross the line, weeping into one another. No medals are awarded; the other athletes finished minutes ago.
Redmond has failed to make his final, and yet 65,000 people in a stadium stand and applaud the real winners. Afterwards, a proud father is being interviewed, and he says something that expresses the Father heart of God, 'I'm prouder of him, than I would've been if he'd won the gold medal. It took a lot of guts to do what he did.' It's always too soon to quit.
When you face tough opposition, and you just want to pull out of life's race; take heart knowing that: 'Blessed is the man who perseveres ...' (James 1:12 NIV).
written by Bob Gass
'... Stand firm. Let nothing move you ...' 1 Corinthians 15:58
Sally Gunnell, Linford Christie, Steve Redgrave all won gold at the 1992 Olympics; but it was an athlete called Derek Redmond who defined the Olympic spirit that year, even though he finished last in his heat.
Barcelona '92 was going to be his year and yet with just 175 metres to go, he felt an explosion of pain in his leg and he collapsed. Tears ran down his cheek as he realised a dream was over. But as the medical stretchers pull up by this lame athlete, something special happens.
In a moment that will etched in millions of minds forever, Redmond hobbles the remainder of the track's bend. As approaches the final straight, his father and trainer, Jim Redmond, joins him. Together, father and son, cross the line, weeping into one another. No medals are awarded; the other athletes finished minutes ago.
Redmond has failed to make his final, and yet 65,000 people in a stadium stand and applaud the real winners. Afterwards, a proud father is being interviewed, and he says something that expresses the Father heart of God, 'I'm prouder of him, than I would've been if he'd won the gold medal. It took a lot of guts to do what he did.' It's always too soon to quit.
When you face tough opposition, and you just want to pull out of life's race; take heart knowing that: 'Blessed is the man who perseveres ...' (James 1:12 NIV).
written by Bob Gass
