“Those who know the truth are not equal to those who
practice it." ~ Confucius
The big day had finally
arrived. For nearly three years Tommy, a
13-year-old had been consumed by breaking the school’s rope climbing
record. He’d come close before, but with
8th grade graduation approaching, this would be his last chance to
leave his mark.
Most students climb from a standing start to a point 18 feet
high in as few seconds as possible.
Tommy, however, would start from a sitting position since a head-on
collision with a drunk driver had taken away the use of his legs.
The school record of 4.1 seconds had stood for nine
years. As he wheeled into position and
gripped the rope tightly, Tommy beamed with confidence. When Coach Kyle yelled “Go!” he began a quick
ascent, hand over hand, ability over dis-ability.
He slapped the board and slid back down the rope. The entire class gathered around to check
the watch. “4.1 seconds,” signaled an
enthusiastic Coach. Tommy – you just
tied the record!”
“I’d like to try again Coach,” said an undeterred Tommy.
On his second try the watch stopped at 4.0 seconds flat, a
record! But as he descended the rope,
there was a slight doubt in Coach Kyle’s mind whether or not the board at the
18-foot height had been touched. Only
Tommy knew for sure.
With the class already cheering his record-breaking feat,
Coach Kyle asked, Tommy, did you touch?”
An affirmative response meant that the record he’d dreamed of since he
was a skinny sixth-grader and had worked for every day would be his. Coach would trust his word.
As the gym got deathly quiet, Tommy shook his head
negatively. And with this simple
gesture, they witnessed a moment of greatness.
The dry-mouthed coach gathered his thoughts and said “While Tommy didn’t
break the record, he set a much finer mark for everyone to remember by telling
the truth!” Then he turned to
Tommy. “I’m proud of you son. Try again but this time - reach higher on
your takeoff.”
A strange stillness washed over the gymnasium. Forty boys and one coach watched nervously as
Tommy climbed the rope in 3.9 seconds! A
school record, maybe even a world record for a middle school boy.
Tommy - a young man with superb character never went to the
Olympics, but he stood as tall as any Olympian that day because he was honest
with himself and with his God. He
reached a height many of today’s athletes will never achieve because they put
winning ahead of character. We share a
collective blame for creating a culture that undervalues sportsmanship,
considers publicity priceless, and the cost of winning an expense to be borne
by others.
Lord from today on I seek Your truth;
whatever form it may take. Protect me
Father and help me always speak the Truth, knowing full well that stealing is
evil, cheating is wrong, and anything that is not a deliberate reflection of
You is sin! Amen
