Two Questions About the Impossible
Sports history was made the day before I was born. That’s right. On May 6, 1954 that which was previously thought physically impossible happened. The place? Iffley Road Track in Oxford, England. The event? The mile run. The person? Roger Bannister.
For years mile runners had pushed the times downward in their pursuit of the elusive 4-minute mile. So many had come so close. So many believed for it, trained for it, hoped for it … and all fell short by a few seconds and some only tenths of a second.
So when six runners lined up at Iffley Track that spring day, it was another time of expectancy. These were some of the best runners in Europe, potential Olympians in the mix.
The British medical student who would someday be a renowned neurologist, Roger Bannister had trained like all the others. He came prepared like the others.
As the gun sounded, however, he was not prepared for the pace front-runner Chris Brasher, set for this group of milers. “It was too slow. I even yelled, ‘faster,’” Bannister noted. But in hindsight Brasher was doing Bannister the greatest of all favors.
An element of surreal…
Bannister noted during part of the race that his mind felt detached from his body. To him there was an element of surreal to the race.
Then heading into the fourth and final lap, the third place Chris Chataway had then taken the lead with Bannister in second. They went into and around the first turn, at the end of which Bannister made his move.
With little doubt of his intent, he burst around Chataway heading into the backstretch. He had heard the third lap split at 3 minutes and realized he needed to run this final lap at 59 seconds. He BELIEVED he could do it.
Rounding the final turn he saw the faint line of the finishing tape. It was a mixture of agony and joy. It might just happen. He threw himself at the tape and nearly collapsed into the arms of race officials.
He knew he had done it. Even before the announcer came on, he knew he had done it. Then to the crowd’s delight, when the announcer said, “And the time was … three ….”
The roar took over, completely drowning out the results of 3 minutes, 59.4 seconds! Unbelievable! An impossibility became possible, the 4-minute mile had been broken.
I’ve watched this video over and over and over again. Yes, it happened the day before I was born, but it inspires me to do the impossible today and tomorrow. How about you?
Some considered the 4-minute mile a true physical impossibility. But not in Roger Bannister’s mind.
So my two questions to you are:
1. What is impossible for you?
2. What’s stopping you from going for it?
We’d love to hear your thoughts on these two questions.
I’m telling you, it can happen.
We serve a God where all things are possible. If a 6 foot 2 inch, 25-year old Brit could do what was thought impossible nearly 61 years ago, why not you? Why not imagine the physically and spiritually impossible to be yours. It can be.
It is my prayer by the grace of God it will be!
(NOTE: Does your ministry & life feel out of balance? Click here to learn how to create the appropriate margin for long-term ministry effectiveness.)
Like this post? Sign up for our free blog updates to never miss a post. We’ll send you a FREE ebook to say “Thank You.”
