“Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” -Matthew 19:26
Early one morning, Bill and his wife Barbara were enjoying waffles when the inspiration came to him that helped him with one of the great innovations in modern sports.
Bill Bowerman was the legendary track and field coach of the University of Oregon. During his coaching tenure, he led the Oregon Ducks to 4 NCAA national titles and coached 31 Olympic athletes and 51 All-Americans. In addition to his coaching duties, Bill Bowerman devoted many hours to designing and building a better running shoe. The track shoes of the 1960s were heavy and made of materials that were less than beneficial for runners.
During breakfast in 1970, Bowerman was curious about the waffle pattern and wondered if the same pattern could be used to create a shoe that would work on multiple surfaces. He took the family waffle iron to his workshop, filled it with melted urethane. This experiment led to the creation of the “Moon Shoe.” This shoe went on to become the iconic “Waffle Trainer.”
Bill Bowerman’s breakfast inspiration allowed him and his partner, Phil Knight, to launch their small athletic shoe company into what is now Nike, a company today that is worth $102.9 billion.
Bill Bowerman had a passion for running. He also knew there had to be another option for running shoes for the athletes under his care. He kept his eyes, heart, and mind open for a better way.
When our passion is connected to an open heart and mind, we too will see many possibilities in the world around us. God can use us to do extraordinary things. From making shoes to sharing God’s love, we have marvelous potential within us.
Rev. Keith King, Pastor of Worship
