´óÏó´«Ã½

From Leslie Griffiths, Methodist Minister:

The Commonwealth Games are moving towards their grand finale. The pick of today’s events for me has to be the final of the women’s 1,500 metres race. It used to be a mile, of course, and I remember Roger Bannister being the first person ever to beat the four minute barrier for that distance. I wanted to do that too and that's what ended my own athletic career. I remember the embarrassment even now. I rounded the final bend, saw my rivals just ahead of me, put on a surge, passed them like a Ferrari overtaking a Fiesta, and punched the air as I crossed the finishing line in triumph. I was waiting for some back-slapping plaudits when, to my horror, I heard a loud bell ringing. I realised that I’d miscalculated. There was another lap to go. I was a goner. Thus ended my athletics career as my friends remind me mercilessly still.

Everything’s metric now but the challenge is still the same. Supreme fitness, sensible strategy and deep desire (together with, I suppose, an ability to count to four) – that's what it takes to win gold medals. But those self-same qualities can serve a much wider field of endeavour than mere athletics. Supreme fitness is what we need if we're to be at the top of our game and live worthwhile lives; no point, as Saint Paul said, in running aimlessly or boxing at the air. Fit for purpose, that's what we need to be. Sensible strategy comes in useful too - what values do we espouse? What company do we keep? And our deepest desire must be to win our race and earn what Paul calls the imperishable wreath, the gold medal for living, the fulfilment of our purpose.

Roger Bannister has done just that - winning races on the track and winning out in his efforts to live a decent and useful life.