The Bell Lap

In our home sits a large oak and cedar chest. Within it, I store all the gifts and mementos from my missionary service in Chile. Each item represents and catalogues a personal and spiritual experience that helped define the most formative years of my life. Among the most prized of these possessions I count a small brass bell. This simple bell was a gift from my mission president. Its value is not tied up in its design nor its composition. The bell’s appearance is ordinary and its craftsmanship leaves much to be desired. But the value of this gift extends far beyond tangible measurements. The value comes from the lesson which accompanied the gift. It is the lesson of the bell lap.

                The lap bell is a tradition unique to middle and long-track racing events. The lap bell functions as a key element in a runner’s strategy and overall success. You see, a runner’s success on the track depends on a lot more than their physical prowess or athletic ability. The best professional runners possess a more subtle skill, albeit a crucial one, that gives them a competitive advantage. These runners are experts at processing audible cues and responding to those cues with precision and aggression. Each sound, from the crack of the starting gun to the roar of the crowd, provides an important signal to the runner. But of all the audible signals available to the runner, perhaps none is as important as the lap bell.

                The lap bell sounds once the leading runner enters into the final lap, known as the bell lap. The ominous timbre of the bell initiates an abrupt change to the runner’s strategy. Upon hearing the bell’s reverberate tone, a successful runner receives the cue to push harder, to stretch further, and dig deeper. When you factor in the mental and physical exertion required for the prior laps, the bell lap can be a huge challenge. But unless a runner leaves every ounce of effort on the track, they will risk losing ground. Fractional seconds separate the victorious from the defeated, and fractional efforts determine which runner’s will emerge as champions. Championship runners know that glory and satisfaction belong to competitors who conquer the bell lap.

                 In the final weeks of my mission, my president gave me my own personal lap bell as a constant reminder to work a little harder and be a little better. I carried that bell in my pocket every day until the very end. Whenever my thoughts began to wander or lose focus, the muffled ring of the bell brought me back to an awareness of my predicament and my purpose. My mission had a guaranteed end. However, there was no guarantee that it would end well. That outcome had to be earned through effort and persistence. That outcome had to be earned on the bell lap.

                This life consists of a series of formative sprints and marathons. As we conclude each successive stage, we have to toil through some of life’s most pivotal and defining moments. Such moments may amount to a concluding basketball season, a final semester of school, or a fast-approaching end to a mission. In more sober circumstances, such moments may be experienced in the face or terminal illness or aged limitation. Each of these moments is an opportunity to realize our potential and improve our happiness. However, that outcome depends entirely on our willingness to exert our last bit of effort, our final shred of optimism, and our ultimate scrap of grit.

While some do rise to the occasion, a great many fail to conquer the bell lap. So what separates the contenders from the pretenders? Both exhaust the same energy. Both face the same temptations. Both even cover the same distance. Indeed, a casual analysis reveals very few differences between the two types. But the difference lies in which cues are received and followed. The champion follows the cues from the lap bell. The underachiever ignores the bell, ultimately following the promptings to shorten their stride and abandon their hope.

“I am tired”

“I’ve already done enough”

“It won’t make that much difference”

“C’s get degrees”

“It’s just one time”

“Close enough”

“It won’t matter in the end”

These attitudes only offer fictitious satisfaction and stunted potential. Once you let weariness and despondency determine your bell lap strategy, you have already condemned yourself. You have left no room for hope, no room for miracles, and no room for fulfillment. You will finish your lap. The race will end. But the only prize you will come away with is the grim understanding that the pain of regret stings far worse than the pain of effort.

                Now contrast that situation with the condition of those who stubbornly persist until the final stride. Do they feel pain? Ache? Fatigue? Of course they do. In fact, their persistence undoubtedly magnifies their temporary discomfort. However, their tireless perseverance secures the blessings and honors available to the conquerors of the bell lap. Not only do they enjoy a heightened sense of pride and satisfaction, but they also uncover a once dormant confidence and faith. Soon the temporal aches fade, being replaced altogether with the emotional and spiritual sensations of individual accomplishment and gratification.

The individual blessings of enduring to the end are substantial. But remember that a runner does not only race for personal gain. On the track, athletes wear uniforms bearing the colors and symbols of their kin and country. When they win, their nation wins. When they lose, their nation loses too.

Likewise, our personal persistence on the bell lap benefits the lives of others. You may not realize it, but others are watching. They may be friends, associates, and even family members. They too are hoping and praying for your example. They want to see your triumph, because it will inspire them to do the same. They want to observe your character, because it will help them develop their own. They want to witness your bell lap, because it will exemplify their own challenges. People need to know that even though victory may seem beyond reach, perseverance always leaves the door open to miraculous outcomes. Your example can accomplish that.

                Success on the bell lap depends entirely on your willingness to exert your last bit of effort, your final shred of optimism, and your ultimate scrap of grit. Remember the wisdom of President Abraham Lincoln when he said, “I do the very best I know how, the very best I can, and I mean to keep doing so until the end.”

                May your attitude reflect that of Mr. Lincoln’s. May you take the time to recognize the bell lap cues in your own life. May you have to courage to push a little harder, and be a little better. I can promise that fulfillment, joy, and satisfaction await at the finish line.