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“His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the speed of a runner;
but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.”
–– Psalm 147:10-11
The world record for the men’s marathon was set by the late Kelvin Kiptum, who subsequently died tragically in a car accident at the age of 24. Kiptum set the record at the 2023 Chicago Marathon with a time just a few seconds over 2hrs (2:00:35) In the same race, a year later, Ruth Chepng’etich set the women’s marathon world record with a time 2:09:56. This translates into an average mile pace of 4 minutes and 35 seconds for Kiptum, and 4 minutes and 57 seconds for Chepng’etich.
To put this in perspective, in 2021, out of 68,913 high school milers who ran in official track meets, only 1548 of them recorded a time of less than 5 minutes for a mile. Several sources estimate that less than 1%, with some estimates as low as .02%, of the general population can traverse a mile in that time, and that would only be possible with significant training. In fact, a survey conducted by a shoe reviewer concluded that the average Texan could run ⅕ of a mile without stopping. Meanwhile, our own intrepid staff marathoner, Cheryl Perry, has finished 5 of the world’s 6 marathon majors (Boston, London, Paris, Berlin, and Tokyo), running each of those grueling miles faster than the vast majority of humans can run a single mile. Watch out New York Marathon ’25! Though she may be thinking –– Feet, don’t fail me now! –– the back of her singlet should read –– I’ll be showered and eating dinner before you finish … if you finish!
A preponderance of professional football players would not be able to keep up with Cheryl or the others mentioned above for more than a mile, and yet, every competitor at the NFL Combine could run 40 yards faster than the vast majority of humans. From Maxwell Hairston, a 5’11”, 183lbs Cornerback from the University of Kentucky, whose 40 was timed at 4.28 seconds, to Torricelli Simpkins III, a 6’5”, 312lbs Center from Charlotte and the University of South Carolina, whose 40 was timed at 5.45 seconds, every aspiring draftee at the NFL Combine could complete that short sprint faster than most of us, perhaps even while carrying a refrigerator!
Advances in science, training, and equipment have produced athletes who physiologically make highly tuned sports cars seem humdrum in comparison. The high school athletes of today surpass the performances of Olympic champions from the previous generation. In 1904, Jim Lightbody set a World and Olympic record in the 1500 meter run. In 2013, high schooler Mary Cain eclipsed Lightbody’s time by nearly a second.
Athletes today are significantly stronger, faster, and more accomplished than the athletes of previous eras. Yet, while their achievements are incredible, even awe-inspiring, it begs the question of why we as a society have not made similar advances in character, ethics, moral leadership, mutual understanding, compassion, justice, and peace. It is becoming more obvious that for all our advances in technology, medicine, science, and equipment, we continue to make the same mistakes and share the same blind spots as that pair of rebels mixing together a fruit salad in Eden. The Psalmist regularly laments this timeless strife that prevents us from becoming the people God created us to be –– “How long, you people, shall my honor suffer shame? How long will you love vain words, and seek after lies?” –– “Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies; make your way straight before me. For there is no truth in their mouths; their hearts are destruction; their throats are open graves; they flatter with their tongues.” –– “Fools say in their hearts, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is no one who does good.”
And yet, “the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting,” as revealed and proclaimed in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. As Paul counsels, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
We may not be able to replicate the athletes’ performances, but perhaps their commitment to the possibility of progress, and their dedication to the disciplines of training can be instructive for us. Could we be open to a future of possibility through the transformative power of God, as we, strengthened by the Spirit of Christ, dedicate ourselves to the training of our hearts and minds in ways that make for growth in character, ethics, moral leadership, mutual understanding, compassion, justice, and peace? Through such grace we can do better and be better.
“His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the speed of a runner;
but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.”
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