In the race of life, run to win and don't look back, Melissa Hatfield advised Lighthouse Preparatory Academy's 21 graduates on Sunday.
All but three graduated with honors from the non- denominational Christian school.
Hatfield, the pastor of youth and missions at First Baptist, told the graduates about a 1954 race between the world's two top track runners in the 1-mile race, Roger Bannister and John Landy. Bannister had just been the first runner to break the "impossible" 4-minute barrier in the mile. A month later, Landy beat Bannister's time by 1.4 seconds.
When the two faced off in what was dubbed "The Miracle Mile," Landy was in the lead for most of the race but could see Bannister's shadow and knew he wasn't far behind. Landy looked over his left shoulder at the final turn as Bannister passed him on the right and won the race.
When Landy looked back, he was no longer running to run, Hatfield said, but was running not to lose.
A bronze statue exists of Landy peering behind him as he's being passed by Bannister.
"I don't know about you, but I don't want bronze statues around this town of all the moments I got distracted by the shadows in life and forgot what was really important," Hatfield said.
It's easy to lose our focus on what matters, she said, especially in the land of "ER": The pressure to be richer, stronger, prettier, thinner, happier, faster, etc.
"The land of ER is a place where we let everything define us instead of God," she said.
Nothing is more important than your healthy relationships, starting with Jesus Christ, she said.
"You can do no greater good on Earth than point people toward Jesus," she said.
She said when Jesus was asked the greatest commandment, he said: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind," and he added, "You should love your neighbor as yourself."
She said two years after the "Miracle Mile," Landy was running in the 1956 Australian National Championships when he stopped to help another runner who had fallen before continuing - and winning - the 1-mile race.
Some might say Landy was distracted in the race and a potential world record. But Hatfield said the time didn't matter. "It was the character of the person crossing the finish line," she said.
"Graduates, run the race of life well. Don't camp out in the land of ER, try not to be distracted by what doesn't really matter."
"So keep running - eyes and heart focused on what matters most - loving God with all that you are and loving others."
Lighthouse Administrator Karen Crawford said Lighthouse finished its 14th year with the same mission: "To strengthen families by partnering with parents to develop witnesses for Christ through academic excellence and character development."
Crawford said she has photos of some of the graduates who were in her sixth-grade class planting flowers and bushes.
"I was amazed at how small those plants looked, and how small you all looked. So, those plants are all so big that they need to be transplanted somewhere else. And I thought of you all, and how it's time for you to be transplanted somewhere else. You've grown in God, who has developed you."
Class members discussed their memories, ranging from hiding teachers' binders to avoid homework to writing song parodies of the Declaration of Independence to the tune of NSNYC's "Bye, Bye, Bye."
They also talked about being a "melting pot" but being able to count on each other like family.
Graduating senior Brendan Larkins said the class chose Proverbs 24:14 as its class Scripture: "Know also that wisdom is like honey for you: If you find it, there is a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off."
Fellow graduate Seth Carnahan said the class chose the verse because it gives a sense of hope for an uncertain future.
The class motto is: "Attract what you expect, reflect what you desire, become what you respect, mirror what you admire."