In 1954, at age 25, Roger Bannister accomplished what millions considered impossible. To run a mile in under 4:00, experts speculated, would be the equivalent of a physiological suicide mission. As we know Bannister would break the record, but not without a little help from his friends.
I just finished watching the new ESPN movie, Four Minutes. What a great story. Roger against the world, etc... What stood out clearly to me as I watched, however, were the pacemakers. Chris Brasher and Chris Chataway, two close friends, served as Bannister's windbreakers at Oxford. Without them running in front of him the effort undoubtedly would have fallen short. Roger's rival, John Landy, would have beaten him to the punch. Fortunately the Englishman's carefully planned attempt was successful. In the post-race interview Bannister credited Brasher and Chataway as major contributors to his accomplishment.
Blessed are the pacemakers! Perhaps the challenges our friends are facing would prove manageable if, for a lap, we would brave the forces of wind and rain. And should we be found stewards of God-sized dreams, Bannister's milestone reminds us to be gracious beneficiaries of those who have run before us.
"Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed--that exhilarating finish in and with God--he could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God." Heb 12:2 The Message
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