Looking Back

As life goes on day by day; Let each one to his conscience say; That flesh is weak, but God is strong; That right is right and wrong is wrong. That on life’s upward path I’ll run; My face forever to the sun. That I shall do my best today; No let one moment waste away. And as I travel on life’s road; I’ll try to share a brother’s load. That force has power, but love has more; That peace is mightier than war; That real success is only won, By deeds of kindness one has done.

Every time I turn around lately I’m being reminded how far down the road I’ve traveled in this life. I know there are some who can call me a kid, still wet behind the ears, but I’ve succumb to the fact that I’m my grandfather’s age when he was old. Another mile-stone this week is being married for 31 years to “the best”, Paula. Without her I wouldn’t have examined my life and gotten back on track to who I was meant to be. It’s hard to look back on certain parts of my life because there’s a lot of guilt and wasted time nested there, yet I every once-in-a-while get a chance to teach someone how not to live and be happier in the long run. I pray I finish the race strong by not looking back.

John Michael Landy (born April 12, 1930 in Melbourne, Australia) is an Australian former Olympic track athlete. During his school years, Landy enjoyed watching middle distance track events. He became a serious runner during his college years, joining the Geelong Guild Athletic Club in 1949. He was a member of the Australian Olympic team in the ‘52 Summer Olympics in Helsinki and ‘56 Summer Olympics in Melbourne.

On  June 21,1954, at an international meet at Turku, Finland, Landy became the second man, after Roger Bannister, to achieve a sub-4-minute mile, recording a world record time of 3:57.9, ratified by the IAAF as 3:58.0 owing to the rounding rules then in effect. That record held for more than three years. Worldwide, Landy is probably best known for his part in a mile race in the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games, held at Vancouver, British Columbia. Landy ran his second sub-4-minute mile in the race, but lost to Roger Bannister, who had his best-ever time. This meeting of the world's two fastest milers was called "The Miracle Mile", the "Race of the Century" and the "Dream Race"; it was heard over the radio by 100 million people and seen on television by millions more. On the final turn of the last lap, as Landy looked over his left shoulder, Bannister passed him on the right. A larger-than-life bronze sculpture of the two men at this moment was created by Vancouver sculptor Jack Harman in 1967. Regarding this sculpture, Landy quipped that "While Lot's wife was turned into a pillar of salt for looking back, I am probably the only one ever turned into bronze for looking back." (Wikipedia)

[1 Corinthians 9:24-27] Paul compares life in Christ as to running a race with a discipline of wanting to win. Jesus warned those who are full of excuses as to why they can’t follow him at this point in their life, “...No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:57-62). “By faith Moses ...regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward” (Hebrews 11:24-26). “...But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness ...make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him” (2 Peter 3:10-14). Run life’s race, not looking back, to win a crown that will last forever.