In the 1972 Olympics, after one lap in the 800-meter run, Dave Wottle, in his white cap, was in last place. His extraordinary comeback to win the gold medal is one of the great stories of the games. Here’s how he described it:
“The way the race developed, the [other runners] went out so fast at the beginning that they slowed down at the end. I was able to maintain the same pace that I started with. It was all relative … even though it looked like I was kicking on them, they were coming back to me.”
This is Howard Butt Jr. of Laity Lodge. Dave Wottle teaches us the importance of maintaining a steady pace. Believe in yourself and stay the course … it’s the high calling of our daily work.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith…”— Hebrews 12:1-2
