Rob Matthews and dependency upon the 'one who comes alongside.'
Rob Matthews, a blind runner who broke 22 world records and won eight gold medals for Team GB at the Paralympic Games, died on April 11th in Auckland, aged just 56. This naturally gifted and courageous man became the unwitting subject of a teaching illustration with the local church last Sunday as we reminded ourselves of our dependency upon the Holy Spirit. Like other runners with visual impairment, Matthews ran with a guide runner, tied by a short rope which is looped around their fingers. A blind runner needs to work and work at becoming synchronised with his guide in order that they might navigate the course confidently, and at top speed. Image from Daily Mail Matthews has been quoted in the past with regard to his running guides, 'I'm trusting this guy with my life!' One of his guides, Matt Lawton, was reported in the press last week with this insight; 'Most of Rob's guide runners become lifelong friends, but the guy who ran him into the lamp post o