by David Scott Robertson
MURFREESBORO, TN - January 27, 2005 - Middle distance runner David S. Robertson broke a world record today in the 5-mile run at Middle Tennessee State University's indoor track. The official time was 39:04:05. The record-breaking dash undercut the Olympic record by 3.25 seconds and the world record by a full two seconds. It was a personal best for Robertson at this distance.
ESPN2 caught up with Robertson at the finish line to capture these remarks:
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ESPN2: Congratulations, David! Do you realize you've broken the Olympic record and the world record with tonight's performance?
ROBERTSON (breathing hard): Yes, I'm aware of that! It's also my personal best.
ESPN2: The crowd was certainly behind you tonight.
ROBERTSON: I appreciate that. I want to dedicate my new personal best time to the boys in the Lazarus Project, a ministry of the Hope Center. I'd like to dedicate the new Olympic record to my wife, Monica, and my daughter, Abigail. And I'd like to dedicate the new world record to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
ESPN2: Your run was incredible! You really turned it on that last 1,000 meters coming from fourth place to first to run right into the record books.
ROBERTSON: I'd like to give credit where credit is due…my Coach was with me every step of the way…my Coach's name is the Lord Jesus Christ…
ESPN2: Reporting live from MTSU, this is Randy Kazopolis, back to you, Bob,
at Sports Central.
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The above scenario has been brought to you by my imagination. Most of it is true. My name is Robertson. I did run 5 miles at MTSU in roughly 39:04:05. There towards the end of my run I did jog past an old woman in Spandex, two college co-eds with pony tails, and what looked like a retired chemistry professor. Later, in the shower, I did actually dedicate my "personal best" and two "records" to those I mentioned. The only thing missing was ESPN2 and an audience.
I've discovered that for me it's fun and motivating to imagine what I would do and say if I were suddenly thrust into the spotlight for my "fifteen minutes of fame." I did this a lot while watching the '04 Olympics in Athens this past summer. I remember watching with great joy, delight, and admiration as many young athletes were bold with their faith and appreciation to God when the microphone came their way. Many times, the first words out of their mouth was not a message of self-glorification to tens of millions of people but a message of thanksgiving to an audience of One - to God.
My thought today is that the next time you accomplish a goal or achieve something worthwhile to you, be bold in your faith and give credit where credit is due, even if it is only to an audience of One, that is, to God alone. For example...
- You've just washed ten loads of laundry in record time! CELEBRATE TO AN AUDIENCE OF ONE AND GIVE GLORY TO GOD!
- You've mowed the lawn and weed-whacked faster than you've ever done it before! CELEBRATE TO AN AUDIENCE OF ONE AND GIVE GLORY TO GOD!
- You washed two cars, cleaned the interiors, AND properly inflated both sets of tires - all on your lunch break! CELEBRATE TO AN AUDIENCE OF ONE AND GIVE GLORY TO GOD!
- Your husband arrives home after work and the toddlers are alive! You've done your job! CELEBRATE TO AN AUDIENCE OF ONE AND GIVE GLORY TO GOD!
- You've made the photocopies, finished the report, read the homework, written the paper, sent the faxes, purged the emails, made all your meetings…whatever it is that you have done of heroic proportions on the job, at school, or at home - rejoice! CELEBRATE TO AN AUDIENCE OF ONE AND GIVE GLORY TO GOD!
I think the Lord would very much enjoy hearing you give thanks with a grateful heart and rejoice over your accomplishment(s) by crediting Him for His kind (direct or indirect) assistance in your exploit.
Our names may never appear in the Guinness Book of World Records for some astonishing feat, but as the two scriptures below suggest that God is keeping score of our thoughts, words, and deeds in His record keeping system, then we've made the history books after all!
"…your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your BOOK before one of them came to be" (Psalm 139:16 - emphasis mine).
"And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and BOOKS were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books" (Revelation 20:12 - emphasis mine).
DSR
1/30/05