Articles
I Know I Should, but…
Harold Connolly had worked many months perfecting his performance for the 1968
Olympics. Previously, he had won a gold medal for the hammer throw. He knew that this would
be his last contest because of his age (37 years). But he worked out even harder, wanting to retire
with another gold medal.
At his qualification, his first throw wasn’t good enough. He put everything into his
second throw. Sure enough, it was one of the best he’d ever done… perhaps a new record. But as
he was stepping out of the ring, he stepped out the side instead of the back as required by the
rules. The officials cancelled the throw and Connolly failed to qualify.
Later, he remarked, “I can’t complain. After fifteen years of competition, it’s not as if I
didn’t know the rule. I just forgot the rule, that’s all.”
Mr. Connolly’s attitude toward obeying the rules is refreshing. He didn’t offer any
excuse. He didn‘t try to “reason out” a justification for his disobedience. He merely stated that he
was wrong and took the consequences for his action. He also admitted that if he ever competed
again he would be sure to follow the rules.
How often have I heard there words: “I know I should be immersed into Christ, but ____
(you fill in the excuse).” “I know I should reserve sexuality until marriage, but ______.” “I know
I should attend church services, but _____.”
We know that Jesus became the source of eternal life to those who obey Him (Heb. 5:9).
However, we either decide we don’t want to follow his commands or we try to reason our way
out of following the rules by saying “I know that’s what it says, but I like to believe” or “I feel in
my heart I’m right.”
When we look at the scriptures on obedience, we find that God’s prophets were not so
light about God’s commands. They are essential to true faith (Heb. 3:18-19). Obedience is
essential to true love.
~ Larry Fitzgerald
~ via Bulletin Digest, Cisco, TX
