Saturday, May 21, 2016

100 Years and Still Making it Count

Ella Mae Colbert is a retired teacher from Spartanburg County, District 2.  Desiring more than to be pictured on the Smucker’s label on her 100th birthday, Ms. Colbert wanted to be a record breaker for the 100-meter dash for people her age.  Plans were set in action and Ella Mae was to run the 100-meter dash at Chesnee Middle School in Chesnee, South Carolina, a few days after celebrating her 100th birthday.

Colbert’s family had contacted an official timing company, so they could send the results to Guinness World Records, if she did indeed break the world record for people 100 years of age.  On Tuesday, May 17, 2016, the time had come for the run to take place.  Ella Mae’s family, people from the community, teachers, administrators, students, a camera crew, and the official timers lined the track to cheer her on to victory.

Ella Mae went to the starting line, waited for the gun to signal the start of the race, and started the race.  After running a few feet, Colbert tripped and busted her chin.  She had to have the chin bandaged up.  Then she went back to the starting line to try again.  This time, Ella Mae Colson finished the 100-meter dash and crossed the finish line in 46.79 seconds, breaking the world record of the previous 100 year old which was 77 seconds. 

After the race, Ms. Colbert thanked the people for their support and encouragement.  She reminded them that even though she may have broken the record that didn’t mean she was done.  Ever the teacher, she also told the crowd, “You do not stop.  Go ahead.  You’ll have some trials and you’ll have something that gets in your way, but you don’t let it get you down.  You get up; you go again.  Do your best at anything you do.”  Sounds like a great lesson for all of us to take to heart.  No excuses.  On your mark.  Get set.  Go!

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.
Philippians 3:13-15

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.
Acts 20:24

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
I Corinthians 9:24

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
2 Timothy 4:7

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Hebrews 12:1-3

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
I Corinthians 10:3

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