Let's run, let's run !

Sunday February 6, 2022

Let's run, let's run !

“Let us run with perseverance the test that is proposed to us.” Hebrews 12.1

The example of Wilma Rudolph should encourage us even today to... run ! He was the twentieth of 22 children born to a poor black family in Tennessee. As a child, she contracted poliomyelitis and was forced to wear braces in an attempt to walk. “My doctors said I would never walk. My mother declared that I would walk again. I chose to believe her !” At thirteen she was recruited, on her second attempt, by the basketball team of her school. A trainer noticed her and encouraged her to train to become a sprinter. Her courage and perseverance enabled her to obtain a university scholarship and she quickly became a high-class sprinter. In 1960 she was chosen to represent the United States at the Olympic Games in Rome where she measured herself against the favorite, the German Yetta Minie, holder of the world record in the 100 meters. Wilma won the gold medal and then did it again in the 200 meters. She found herself in contention against the German in the 4 times 100 meters, both in fourth position in the relay. As the baton passed Wilma dropped it, giving her rival an advantage. But she did not admit defeat. She picked it up and launched into a frantic and desperate sprint. She caught and passed her rival in the final strides, winning her third Olympic gold medal, and becoming the first American to win 3 gold medals at the same Olympics. She spent the rest of her life, until 1994, traveling the world encouraging young athletes and witnessing at the same time to her deep faith. She once said : “After leaving the world of athletics, I often asked God what I was doing here, what was my destiny. Surely it wasn't just to win a few gold medals ! Life is worth more than that !”

Source (His Word for Today)