Never Mind the Record

When he was nine, Steve Clark knew that some day he would be a champion swimmer. Five years later he was swimming against the greatest in the country. In his four years of high school his team never lost a meet, for Steve was in every event. He made the U.S. Olympic Team when he was seventeen.

Just being a good swimmer didn't make him a champion. But hard work, long hours of practice, and a desire to win put him on top in his favorite sport. "I know I can win," he'd say without bragging, "but I've got to prove it. If you aren't prepared in your mind before you hit the water, you might as well not jump in."

The real champion plays to win and lets the record take care of itself. If the heavy hitter goes to bat with his head full of averages and statistics the chances are he'll strike out. Hit the ball if you can, and the averages will take care of themselves.

Did you ever stop to add up what John the Baptist accomplished in his lifetime? He was beheaded before he reached thirty. Jesus was crucified a few months later, and his followers were sent into hiding. Abraham Lincoln died after living through what was almost the destruction of his country. None of these men tried for a record and had little to show for themselves at the end. They just worked hard at the tasks God gave them to do day after day. But they left a mighty good record behind them, for they were not working with numbers but serving God's people.