Some Races Can't Be Won

In the 1950's, the 4-minute mile was the pinnacle of athletic achievements that all sports fans were eager to see broken for the first time. And until 1954, no one had run a mile in less than 4 minutes before. But on May 6, 1954, Roger Bannister (now Sir Roger Bannister) ran a 3:59.4 mile at the Oxford University track, beating his Australian opponent John Landy.
I had plans on Saturday to go back to Oxford and run a mile on this legendary track, but it so happened that I got an upper respiratory infection the day before and was unable to use my already-purchased bus ticket. So instead of running a much slower mile on Roger Bannister Track, I spent the day in my sickbed here in Cambridge.
At first, I was quite disappointed that I couldn't make my final trip and run where one of my favorite athletes made history. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that some races just can't be won. I can't experience everything in this life. We can only do so much and only have a certain amount of time.
Heck, if I had it in mind to experience absolutely everything I possibly could, I'd be spending a decade in college, attempting to take every course Concordia offers. I would have spent my four months here frantically travelling around Europe, trying to set my foot in every country so I can say I experienced it. But some things I simply won't get to do. And that's okay. It's the way life is, and it's something we have to accept.
I have experienced so much here in just four months. I never thought I'd make it to Europe, and I managed to travel all around the British Isles and talk to amazing people I otherwise never would have met.
One event I witnessed that I neglected to blog about was Guy Fawkes Day on November 5. It's a huge celebration here in England, made famous to Americans by the movie V for Vendetta. On November 5, 1605, a terrorist named Guy Fawkes attempted to blow up Parliament in what was to become known as the Gunpowder Plot. He didn't succeed, and so every 5th of November, England remembers that day by having fireworks celebrations and bonfires in cities around the country. The fiery picture above was from that night.
Also, my friends Micah and Dorothy had their baby on November 9 (Martin Chemnitz's birthday!). They named him Jonathan Augustine after the man from the Bible and the 5th-century theologian. I get to hold him sometimes, and we're great friends.
Some things I experienced over here I never expected to do. And other things I wanted to do (run on Roger Bannister's track) and places I wanted to see (Paris) simply didn't work out.
And that's the way life is. Some races can't be won, and others must be, though we may not know it at the time.
I'm very happy with the amount that I've experienced on this fine continent this semester. Yes, many people will have that one thing that they will say I should have done. And yes, I may never get back to Europe. But I am baptized into Christ. And with that promised salvation in my possession, what regrets are truly worth having?
I'm on the mend with my illness. My very kind doctor who I went to see today said my immune system is worn out. She said that after studying abroad for four months in a foreign country, working very hard all the while, I just need some rest. I've done a lot of homework and done loads of travelling. And now there's only one trip left to make: my trip back home.