Transcript
The Barcelona Olympics of 1992 provided one of track and Field’s most incredible moments. Britain’s Derrick Redman had dreamed all of his life of winning a gold medal in the 400 meter race, and his dream was insight as the gun sounded in the semifinals at Barcelona, he was running the race of his life and could see the finish line. As he rounded the turn into the back stretch, suddenly he felt a sharp pain go up the back of his leg. He fell face first onto the track with a torn right hamstring. As the medical attendants were approaching, Redmond fought to get to his feet. It was animal instinct, he would say. Later he sat out, hoping in a crazed attempt to finish the race, and when he reached the stretch, a large man in a T-shirt came out of the stands, hurled aside a security guard, and ran to Redmond, embracing him. It was Jim Redman. Derek’s father, you don’t have to do this, he told this weeping son. Yes, I do, said Derek. Well, then said Jim, we’re gonna finish this together. And they did. Did Derek didn’t walk away with the gold medal that day, but he walked away with an incredible memory of a father who, when he saw his son in pain, left his seat in the stands to help him finish the race. That’s what God does for us when we are experiencing pain and we’re struggling to finish the race. We can be confident that we have. The loving father who won’t let us do it alone. He left this place in heaven to come alongside us in the person of his son, Jesus Christ, Matthew 2820. I am with you always, says Jesus to the very end of the age. God bless you today, Captain Ken Chapman.