06/05/2014

Good morning

Today is the 20th anniversary of the opening of the Channel Tunnel, a transport project that some felt was ill-advised and unnecessary, and other saw as positive. It was a long time coming, having first been proposed back in 1802. Today, the “Chunnel”, as it’s known, is the longest underwater stretch of tunnel in the world.

60 years ago today, another method of transportation also reached a milestone, in the form of a medical student called Roger Bannister running a mile in under 4 minutes for the first time in recent recorded history. Though it’s impossible to compare these achievements directly, both involve trying to get from one place to another, more quickly than before.

Obviously, the reasons Bannister and his supporters wanted to break the 4-minute barrier when running a mile are very different from the reasons that the Chunnel exists. But both involve something in our human natures that makes us eager to press on, to go faster, farther or higher, no matter the reason. The Olympic and Commonwealth Games or the Giro d’Italia cycle race that begins later this week in Northern Ireland, all provide opportunities for individuals and teams to break records and excel in very public ways. In my own small, private way, I usually like getting from A to B as quickly as possible, and find myself coveting a well-engineered road or envying someone who can cycle or run quickly. The Victorian hymn Fight the Good Fight tells us to ‘run the straight race through God’s good grace’ but it doesn’t mention speed or distance. The hymn also asks that we lift our eyes, and seek God’s face.

Lord God, help me, in my own, ordinary journeys in life, to slow down and look up to you, every so often. Amen