“For years, so many athletes had tried and failed to run a mile in less than four minutes that people made it out to be a physical impossibility.” (History.com)

On May 6, 1954, in Oxford, England, Roger Bannister became the first person to do it, finishing in 3 minutes 59.4 seconds.

Two months later, John Landy ran a mile in under 4 minutes in a race he lost to Bannister.  Steve Scott has run 136 sub-four-minute miles in his lifetime.  The current record is held by Hicham El Guerrouj, who ran a time of 3:43.13 in 1999. In 1997, Daniel Komen of Kenya ran two miles in less than eight minutes, doubling up on Bannister’s accomplishment. (Wikipedia)

For so long, a four minute mile was never accomplished and then in the 60 years after accomplishing it, the record is blown to smithereens.

What happened?

This quick glance at history would lead you to believe that it was impossible to run a mile in under four minutes prior to May 6, 1954, and then somehow possible after.

But we know that’s not true. It wasn’t impossible before May 6, 1954.

It was just invisible.

The impossible is made possible when the invisible is made visible.

On May 6, 1954, the impossible was made visible by one, making it possible for many.

This is true for so much more than running.

It’s true for the person…

…who doesn’t believe it’s possible to have joy without health until they see a man w/ no arms and legs radiating supernatural joy.

…who doesn’t believe it’s possible to be joyful without being married until they see a single person full of genuine joy.

…who doesn’t believe there are any good men out there until she sees a man treating a woman like a queen.

…who doesn’t believe that God is a loving Father until they see an older man displaying the unconditional, adoptive, love of a father.

…who doesn’t believe that children are a blessing rather than a nuisance or inconvenience, until they see well behaved, joyful, and orderly kids.

…who doesn’t believe that kids can sit still and be well behaved without entertainment until they see a large family eating at a restaurant in an orderly way without any electric devices.

…who doesn’t believe it’s possible to have more than two kids without going crazy until they see a family with 9, happy and in their right mind.

…who doesn’t believe it’s possible to date or be engaged, without sinning sexually with their body until they see a couple’s first kiss on their wedding day.

…who doesn’t believe in distinctly different gender roles until they see a man and a women displaying them rightly.

…who doesn’t believe Christianity is anything but superficial hallelujahs until they see worship in the midst of suffering.

…who doesn’t believe marriage can last until they meet an elderly couple still holding hands and being affectionate after 60 years of marriage.

…who doesn’t believe that church is anything more than a joke until they see true authentic spiritual family.

…who doesn’t believe that God heals the sick until they see a person lay hands on a sick person and they get well.

…who doesn’t believe that prophecy and dreams are given by God to people still today until they are told of a prophetic word or dream that “reads their mail”.

…who doesn’t believe that God is real until they meet him in their neighbor.

Roger Bannister will be remembered for demonstrating to the world that the seemingly impossible feat of a 4 minute mile was possible.

What invisible possibility are you aiming to show the world?