FOR WHAT WILL YOU BE REMEMBERED?

 

 

He was a prominent British neurologist for more than 40 years.  He made a major contribution in academic medicine for his work in "autonomic failure."  At St. Mary's Hospital in London, the Imperial College School of Medicine named a lecture after him. 
The 82-year-old doctor has served as Director of the National Hospital for Nervous Diseases as well as Chairman of the Editorial Board of the journal Clinical Autonomic Research.  He has written textbooks. All of this is remarkable for one born to working class parents, but typical of his famous drive he decided very early in life to earn a place in one of England's elite universities where he could study medicine.  That university was Oxford.  That is quite a distinguished career for an overachiever, but this man of science knows that most people know nothing of these achievements in his life.  His name is associated with something that took less than four minutes to occur.  He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1975 for his efforts in this realm.

His name is Sir Roger Bannister.  For many, that is enough information.  However, if I said, "The First Man To Run A Mile In Less Than Four Minutes," that would resonate with many more of you.  His efforts, while in college and at age 25, on May 6, 1954, took 3:59.4, made history and opened the door for many other sub-four minute miles.  He was an Olympic Athlete before that momentous day and he served in various official sports positions since that day, but even within athletics he is remembered for that one run.  It was not even his best time, as he ran the mile later that year in Vancouver at 3:58.8.  He won over 100 awards in his brief career as a runner.  But he is remembered for "the run."

Each of us is building a legacy that will outlive us, if nowhere but in our immediate families or in the congregation we attend.   We may not be famous or recognized for our achievements on the job or our private enterprises.  But, we will be remembered.  Will it be some attribute?  Some cause?  Some incident?  Will it be something to cherish or embarrass?  Many a good person has offset a life of good influence with an instance of indiscretion.  Some will perform an act of kindness or an effort for Christ that bears fruit which will utterly surprise them in eternity.  But, I believe that most of us will do something that will speak for us after we have died.  The good news is that we are in control of whether that is bad or good!

 

--Neal Pollard