This weekend, with a lot of thankful free times on my hands, I am free to do as I please.
I rented two movies that I have been meaning to watch for a long time.
Tonight I watched Chariot of Fire.
The movie is about a Christian missionary named Eric Liddell (also known as the Flying Scotsman). Not only was he a man of God but he was also a runner. He won the 400 meters in Olympic 1924.
There are many outstanding qualities that one can admire Eric Liddell. His passion for Christ. His strong principle for not willing to on Sun (at the risk of missing a game) for Sabbath. His sportsmanship (shakes every hand of his competitors before the game)….
And as a Christian Triathlete, there are many things that I can related to. The parallelism between training and the journey of faith. Between racing with one’s heart and passion instead for competitiveness…to run for God.
I just finish a book, Ordering your Private World. There was one section which the author talked about Eric Liddell. After the Olympics, Eric Liddell went to China as a missionary in World War Two. He died in the camp from a brain tumor. This is one description of Eric by an eye witness to describe his joy and contentment while in the camp:
“What was his secret? Once I asked him, but I really knew already, for my husband was in his dormitory and shared the secret with him. Every morning about 6 am, with curtains tightly drawn to keep the shining of our peanut-oil lamp, lest the prowling sentries would think someone was trying to escape, he used to climb out of his top bunk, past the sleeping forms of his dormitory mates. Then, at the small, Chinese table, the two men would sit close together with the light just enough to illumine their Bibles and notebooks. Silently they read, prayed, thought what should be done. Eric was a man of prayer not only at set times – though he did not like to miss a prayer meeting or communion service when such could be arranged. He talked to God all the time, naturally as one can who enters the “School of Prayer” to learn this way of inner discipline. He seemed to have no weighty mental problems: his life was grounded in God, faith, and in trust.”
…I can envision two men huddle over a dimly light table. The light is barely enough to illuminate the Bible. As they read the passage and discuss the situation of the camp, the meaning of life and the meaning of a Christian. They prayed for many things. For the prisoners. For the guards. For those who are sick and those who are in need of help.
…There is one scene in Amazing Grace where William Wilberforce was telling his butler that he rather enjoy sitting on wet grass and stared at a spiderweb. It might sound strange. But there are many times where I rather be out on the road and enjoy the splendid of God’s Creation.
This morning, I did a quick run around my neighborhood. I must have run this route for many years. I am familiar with every turn and corner. Every tree and sidewalk.
As my marathon approaching in less than a week (Oct 19th), there are a lot on my mind.
What if this or that? What if I haven’t train enough? What if I can’t hold a certain pace for?
From a bigger scheme of things, these things ain’t all that important. I am reminded by why Eric Liddell run…Because he gives great joy to God when he run.
Unlike Eric, God did not make me fast. Like Eric, He gave me a gift. The gift of endurance. Just like the journey of our spiritual walk. It is not a sprint. It is a marathon. It is continuous focus. And during the journey, there will be ups and downs. There will be doubts and excitement. And there will be a point where I will ask myself…’can I keep on going any more?’
It is as Paul said…1 Corinthian 9:24
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
This Sun, I will run in such a way to get the prize. The prize that will glorify His Name.
