THINK ABOUT IT             8-16-24

My favorite Olympic story is an odd one, and a wonderful story that brings us back to one of our original texts from the Apostle Paul.  When the Olympic Games were held in St. Louis in 1904, there was an unusual entry in the Marathon.  A small Cuban mail carrier named Felix Carvajal announced one day to his fellow postal workers that he was going to travel to the United States and win the Marathon for Cuba.  He was without money or backing, yet he quit his job and began begging on the streets of Havana, seeking traveling funds.  “Help me go to the United States,” he appealed, “and win a race for Cuba.”           

No one took him seriously, but somehow he collected enough money for the trip.  He took a boat to New Orleans where he promptly lost all his money in a dice game.  From New Orleans, he hitched rides to St. Louis where he arrived hungry and in rags.  Members of the American team befriended him and gave him some food and a place to sleep.           

He had no running clothes and no running shoes, only heavy street shoes.  He knew nothing about running and had no experience in track and field.  Nevertheless, he cut off his pants above the knees and there he was at the starting line, street shoes and all.      

It was a sweltering day; the heat and humidity were oppressive.  One by one, many of the other runners collapsed.  One American runner nearly died.  Felix, however, being from Cuba, thought nothing of the blistering conditions.  He fairly skipped along, laughing and sometimes even pausing to joke with spectators along the way.          

With only two miles to go, Felix had a huge lead.  He was running alongside an orchard and he spotted some apples.  They fairly beckoned to him, and he stopped to eat some of them.  They were green, and soon he was stricken with severe stomach cramps.  He lost the lead, though he did come in fourth, doubled-over with pain.  Of the thirty-one starters that day, only fourteen finished, and Felix was fourth among them.(By Robert J. Morgan, used by permission)

The Apostle Paul said: “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize?  so run, that ye may obtain.  And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things.  Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.  I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:  But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway (I Corinthians 9:24-27).

Let us dedicate ourselves to meeting with the Lord each morning, persevering through the difficulties, cultivating good relationships, helping others, and pressing on so as to finish well. “Let us run with patience the race that is set before us”,until that glorious day when we hear Him say, “Well done”. HDS

David Stone  

Lakeway Baptist Church  

Humble,TX

THINK ABOUT IT            8-13-24

GOING FOR THE GOAL

PROPER PRIORITIES: Lawrence Lemieux

Another famous Olympian was Jesse Owns, who humiliated Adolf Hitler at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin.  Hitler disliked black athletes and felt they were inferior to Arians.  Hitler was hoping that the 1936 Olympics would prove him right.

Jesse Owens was an African-American track star whose main event was the Long Jump.  But Owens was having trouble with that event in Berlin.  In the qualifying rounds, he missed two times.  The first time, he thought he was just taking a practice jump, but the official counted it as one of his three actual attempts to qualify.  On his second attempt, he misjudged the takeoff spot and fouled again.  One more miss, and he would be eliminated from competition.  His main competitor was a German named Lutz Long, the only jumper there with a reasonable shot at beating Owens. 

It was just then that Lutz Long walked over to Jesse Owens and chatted with him for a few moments.  “Something must be bothering you,” Long said.  “You should be able to qualify with your eyes closed.  Owens explained that he hadn’t realized that his first jump counted as a qualifying attempt.  That had so rattled him that he overcompensating in his second jump.

Long said, “Since the distance you need to qualify isn’t that difficult, make a mark about a foot before you reach the foul line.  Use that as your jump-off point.  That way you won’t foul.”

Jesse did just that.  He used his foot to dig a mark in the grass next about a foot short of the foul line, and he used that as his jump-off spot.  He qualified that time with a couple of feet to spare.

Later that afternoon, Jesse Owens and Lutz Long went head-to-head in competition.  It was nip-and-tuck to the end, but when Jesse Owens won the gold metal, Hitler reportedly scowled, but Lutz Long ran over and threw his arms around him in congratulations.  Years later, Jesse Owens talked about that moment, and he said, “You could melt down all the medals and cups I have and they wouldn’t match the 24-carot friendship I felt for Lutz Long at that moment.”

The two men became good friends and stayed in touch, even during World War II when the two nations were locked in a terrible war with each other.  Lutz was a lieutenant in the German Army, but he wrote to Owens and said, “I hope we can always remain best of friends despite the differences between our countries.”

It was the last communication the two of the ever shared, for just a few days later, Lutz was killed in battle.  But the story doesn’t end there.  Years later, Owens received a letter from Lutz Long’s son, who was then 22-years old and getting married.  The letter said, “Even though my father can’t be here to be my best man, I know who he would want in his place.  He would want someone that he and his entire family admired and respected.  He would want you to take his place.  And I do, too.”

And Jesse Owens flew to Germany to be the best man at the wedding of the son of his former arch competitor and rival.  What does that tell us?  It tells us that friends are important, and that we must carefully guard and nourish our friendships.  The Bible says that love never fails. (By Robert J. Morgan, used by permission)

David Stone 

Lakeway Baptist Church  

Humble, TX

Here’s another story, and one that was totally unfamiliar to me, although I think it’s well known by anyone who studies the history of the modern Olympics.  The very first Olympic champion in the history of the modern games is an American named James Connolly, the first person to win a gold medal after the resumption of the games in 1896.

James Connolly, who was born in south Boston, dreamed of attending Harvard University, but he couldn’t afford it.  He worked multiple jobs for many years to save enough for tuition; and at age 27, he finally enrolled.  The year was 1896, and soon rumors spread that the ancient Olympics would be reborn in Athens.  At Princeton University, runner Robert Garrett had already decided to go, taking three teammates with him.  Princeton gave them six weeks off for the trip.         

Back at Harvard, Arthur Blake, another runner, was granted permission to attend the Olympics.  But when James asked for the same privilege, the school refused.  ‘You’re only an undergraduate,” said the dean.  “If you leave now, you will have to quit—and you may not be allowed back in.”      

“I’m a good enough jumper to beat anybody in the world,” James replied.  “I’m going to Athens to prove it.  And if that means quitting Harvard, then I quit right now.”  Storming from the school, James withdrew his college funds and, shortly afterward, left for Europe aboard a German steamer.  The other athletes were on board, too, but they had lots of funding and could travel first class.  James found himself far below deck in a cramped, musty, dank cabin with little food.  He suffered terribly from seasickness.           

James was no sooner off the boat in Naples then someone bumped into him on the crowded streets; and when he later reached for his billfold, it was gone.  He’d been robbed of every cent by a pickpocket.  He arrived in Athens exhausted, penniless, frazzled, and traveling at the mercy of wealthier teammates.  He was weak and out of shape.  But at least he had two weeks to recover from the trip.  That’s when he suffered his next shock.  The Greeks used a different calendar than the Americans, and Olympic competition was set to begin the very next day!           

When morning came, James dragged himself out of bed for the opening ceremonies and stood for hours in the blazing sun awaiting the arrival of the King of Greece.  When the games began, James’ event, the triple jump, was first on the schedule.  “I don’t know if I can manage even one jump,” James said.  “I’m exhausted.”           

But his teammate pulled him aside. “I’ve seen you make it this far despite all the problems you’ve had getting here,” said his friend.  “And I’ve seen you jump.  There’s no one here who can beat you.  Just remember.  You’re representing Americans now.”           

As the competition proceeded, James watched his opponents.  The French jumper had the best marks, a triple jump of 41 feet, 8 inches.  Walking to the edge of the runway, James’ threw his cap a yard beyond his opponent’s distance.  A rush of adrenaline came, along with a fresh surge of confidence.  Racing down the runway, James leaped into the air and to everyone’s amazement, his triple jump measured nearly 45 feet—beyond even where he had thrown his cap.          

Leaping to their feet, the thousands of spectators began roaring, “Nike!  Nike!”  

“What does that mean?” asked James.  The judge said, “That means victory.”  That afternoon, James Connolly stood on the victor’s stand and was awarded the silver medal, at that time signifying first place.  Not only did he become America’s first Olympic hero, he was the first Olympic champion of modern times.

As I read that story, I was reminded that we must all persevere through difficulties if we’re going to win the crown.  The Bible says that we must run with perseverance the race that is set before us.  We mustn’t give up.  I recently listened to tape recordings of the speeches Franklin Roosevelt gave to America during World War II, including his famous fireside chats.  In one of those speeches, he said something like this:  “These are difficult days, but they are not dark ones.”  The Christian has many difficult days, but they aren’t dark ones.  We must keep on going until the prize is won.  (By Robert J. Morgan, used by permission) THINK ABOUT IT!

David Stone  

Lakeway Baptist Church  

Humble,TX