«What strength do I have, that I should hope? And what is my end that I should prolong my life?» (Job 6: 11)
On a cold morning in 1916, Glenn and Floyd were the first children to arrive at school. While waiting for their teacher and classmates to arrive, they tried to fire up the classroom stove. Suddenly, an unfortunate accident caused the stove to explode, killing Floyd, while Glenn was seriously hurt. The burns he suffered on the lower part of his body were so severe and extensive that the doctor’s prognosis was no more encouraging than the treatment: he would be disabled for the rest of his life, since both of his legs were to be amputated. But neither Glenn nor his parents consented to it and, for a few days, they tried to convince the doctors to postpone the operation while they prayed to God that such a traumatic surgery could be avoided. The days passed and, despite having lost some muscle in the legs and a few toes, the surgery never took place. Instead, he followed a slow and tiresome process of rehabilitation. In time, thanks to his mother’s daily massages and his iron-willed determination, Glenn could finally stand up. At first, he crawled, then he started to walk with help. Later on, he stopped using crutches. Then one day, he started running until he became the fastest runner in the world!
With effort and persistence, Glenn Cunningham broke various world records. In 1934, he broke the mile run world record; then he did it in the 800 meters, afterwards in the 1500 meters during the Berlin Olympic Games that took place in 1936.
Sometimes, when things go wrong, we are overcome by discouragement and we start to believe that it is not worth fighting. But sometimes, moments like these give us the opportunity to make our life a source of inspiration for others.
Glenn decide he would not give up. It took him two years to get back on his feet, and he did not do it without suffering great pain in his legs. Despite the hurdles, he decided to walk and fight with patience and persistence, until he achieved his goal. In the midst of hardship, Job wondered, «What strength do I have, that I should hope? And what is my end, that I should prolong my life?» (Job 6:11). This Kansas athlete could answer him with his favorite verse: But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint» (Isa. 40:31). You too can stand if, with patience and persistence, you ask for the strength that comes from heaven.