Words for Worship

Ministry Today

4 Minute Mile

At one time they said it could not be done. But then three young athletes set out to prove them wrong. And they did it by running a mile in under 4 minutes.

But to break the four minute barrier they used a brand new method. For they realised only one of them would run the full distance. The other two would run in front of him and encourage him along as it were. In the process they would exhaust themselves faster and have to drop out.

Well, the one who would run the whole distance was called Roger Banister and the two helpers, known as pacemakers were Chris Brasher and Chris Chataway. And as a result in May 1954, after massive amounts of training, they attempted the record.  

Roger Bannister afterwards remembers collapsing almost unconscious with exhaustion and pain. Yet he still heard his time of 3 minutes 59.7 seconds.

Today most people only remember him and forget the others.

But when Chris Brasher died,  the news remembered his part in the achievement. Which was right. For he had made  a huge effort simply to allow another to succeed.

Therefore, in some ways he needed more determination and courage. In many ways, he won the greater race.

Thank you for listening

©Copyright: Graham Taylor; all rights reserved