Posted in bible reading, Bible teaching, daily devotion, devotional, discipleship, Faith Journey, Inspiration, motivation, spiritual journey, tagged don't give up, enthusiasm, Felix Carvajel, finish the race, monomaniac, Peter Drucker, serve the Lord, summer olympics on May 16, 2016|
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Story of the Day for Monday May 16, 2016
A Monomaniac With a Mission
Don’t slow down, but be active in spirit – serving the Lord.
Romans 12:11
Peter Drucker, a highly esteemed guru in the business world, observed, “Whenever anything is being accomplished, it is being done, I have learned, by a monomaniac with a mission.”
“Monomaniacs with a mission” are passionate people. They radiate enthusiasm. They know where they want to go, and are single-minded in pursuit of their goals.
When I am spiritually discouraged, it is almost always because I have slammed into roadblocks. Here I am, nobly offering my life to the service of the Lord, and what does he do? He puts one obstacle after another in my way.
You don’t think he does it for a reason, do you?
Maybe so.
The 1904 summer Olympics were being held in St. Louis, and a poor, Cuban mailman, Felix Carvajel decided to enter the marathon. The Cuban Olympic Committee, however, would not sponsor him. Felix would have to raise the money on his own. He would run in circles in Havana’s central plaza and beg for money from onlookers. Carvajal finally raised enough money to board a tramp steamer bound for New Orleans.
In New Orleans, he lost the remainder of his money to swindlers in a dice game. But don’t spend your day worrying about Felix. He started running from New Orleans to St. Louis. He bummed rides and food where he could.
On the day of the marathon, the temperature and the humidity were over 90. Felix, unacquainted with racing attire, showed up in long woolen pants, a long linen shirt, high-top boots, and a felt hat. A sympathetic American discus thrower cut his pants off below the knee before the starting gun sounded.
The race was so grueling that only 14 of the 32 starters would finish. Felix was running well, but hadn’t eaten all day. When he saw an apple orchard, he stopped and gorged himself on green apples. Near the finish, he got sick.
Despite the fact that Felix’s rivals had their coaches giving them sponge baths, food, and water (the only water offered on the course was at the 12 mile marker), despite the fact that the first-place finisher was actually assisted across the finish line by two coaches, Carvajal still managed to finish fourth.
Despite overwhelming obstacles, Felix kept going.
Don’t be discouraged by the difficulties you’re facing. Let ‘er rip, don’t give up, and serve the Lord.
(copyright 2012 by climbinghigher.org and by Marty Kaarre)
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