“Knowing Christ is the best thing that has ever happened to me, although winning the US Open was a pretty good second.”
Christianity, Sport and Disability:
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A Case Study of the Role of Long-Distance Running in the Life of a Father and his Son who is Congenitally Blind and has Profound Intellectual Disabilities, Nick J. Watson and Andrew Parker, Practical Theology, Vol. 5.2 August 2012, Pages 189-207
The aim of this qualitative case study was to explore the role of sport (long distance running) in the lives of a father and his son who is congenitally blind and has profound intellectual disabilities. Since 1989 they have competed in 41 marathons, 77 half-marathons and countless 5 and 10K races.
The authors note that there has been little theological reflection on disability sport. They see in disability sport humility, Godly strength in human weakness, brokenness, vulnerability and sacrificial love, in contrast to “the win-at-all-costs mentality that characterizes the commercialised world of professional sport”. They suggest that “Jon and James’ story is a powerful ‘counter narrative’ that challenges the often unhealthy message of “winning-at-all-costs” in professional sport, in which failure to win, to ‘self-actualize’ and gain external rewards, often leads to immoral behaviours and low self-concept and feelings of unworthiness”.
The authors suggest that “the ‘relationship’ which developed between John and James during those early days of fostering, reflects the infant footsteps of the Christian believer’s walk with God, that is, a slow process of developing trust and confidence and a broken, dependent son who accepts the grace, love and guidance of his father”.