| I just finished reading a biography of Eric Liddell, which shares the painstaking details of his life. That is to say, the author went to great pains to capture every single little detail he could... He would have been better served by being more selective in what he wrote about, so that it would be more interesting, but, regardless, Liddell's life is still inspirational even with all the mundane details thrown in of what street he lived on or what his childhood home looked like. What was most striking was what was said about him at his funeral. I have included quotes below. He had an extremely average ability -- but he was totally surrendered to God to the point that God could use those average talents to a remarkable extent. I never realized that Eric's running was a mystery to people -- how he could run with his head up in the air, eyes gazing at the sky, arms churning like windmills. No one can understand how he could possibly have won the 400m at the Paris Olympics and also set the world record, given his awful technique and the facts that he had run 2 other races that same day and that the 400m wasn't really his event. I am impressed that a man of average abilities was able to produce such lasting fruit -- the key was being surrendered to God. How many people have above-average abilities and hardly accomplish anything of eternal value, because they are not submitted to God? How many times have I complained about not using my gifts to their fullest extent and tried to find what my "calling" is? -- Instead of just asking God how I can be obedient to him right now, whether it be through the mere act of washing dishes or solving a Fourier transform. Eric Liddell does not strike me as the type of man who would be paralyzed with such questions -- he would just pray, meditate, and go out and serve, immune to the quarterlife crisis, analysis paralysis and angst that plagues the current generations. Eric's joy and fulfillment came because he obeyed God, not specifically because he was doing what he deemed most fulfilling. He chose God first, and God gave him fulfillment. He lost his life to gain it. Sometimes asking the question, "How can I do something of value?" can be a trap because the problem is the focus of that question is on "I" -- how can I feel fulfilled? -- and serving God means forgetting oneself and making the focus of the question be God. Quotes from book, Eric Liddell: Pure Gold by David McCasland
Eric's funeral:
Dr. Arnold Bryson:
"What was the secret of his consecrated life and far-reaching influence? Absolute surrender to God's Will as revealed in Jesus Christ. His was a God-controlled life and he followed his Master and Lord with a devotion that never flagged with an intensity of purpose that made men see both the reality and power of true religion."
Ted McLaren:
"Never once did he show the slightest sign of bad temper or bad sportsmanship on the field; both, it seemed to me, were utterly foreign to him. Many a time he was lain for by his opponents, whose tactics were at least doubtful, but never would he repay them in their own coin -- his method was invariable -- he merely played better rugby and made them look like second raters."
A.P. Cullen:
"I have known Eric for thirty-three years. I have been in frequent contact with him for the last twenty years. After his family left for Canada, he and I lived together, just the two of us, in my flat till January 1942. From then until he came here fourteen months later, almost every day I went for a long walk with him. And from my knowledge of him, gained in this close association over many years, I say that Eric is the most remarkable example in my experience of a man of average ability and talents developing those talents to an amazing degree, and even appearing to acquire new talents from time to time, through the power of the Holy Spirit. He was, literally, God-controlled, in his thought, judgments, actions, words, to an extent I have never seen surpassed, and rarely seen equaled.
The most noteworthy feature in Eric's life was the regular and rapid progress of his spiritual development. It is as phenomenal as the speed with which, in a 100-yard race, after being yards behind at halfway, he would catch up and pass the winning-post an easy first, leaving the other competitors standing. In the athletic world, no one knows how he did it-- it remains a mystery; but for his progress in the spiritual race there is a very clear and definite explanation.
First of all, absolute surrender to the Will of God. Absolute surrender -- those words were often on his lips, the conception was always in his mind; that God should have absolute control over every part of his life.
It was toward the attainment of that ideal that he directed all his mental and spiritual energies. It was no more easy for him than it is for us; let no one think that he did not have his temptations, just as we have, temptations to indolence, slackness, compromise, and what not. But he won his way through, by persistent study, regular times of devotion, constant meditation, insistent prayer, getting up early in the morning and spending one hour--two hours-- in a concentrated search for God's will as revealed in the teaching of Jesus and the Bible generally.
In recent years he laid much emphasis on the teaching in the Sermon on the Mount, which, he was convinced, embodied a really practical way of living, indeed the only practical way of living for a Christian. To him the supreme thing about God was God's love, even as love is the supreme necessity for a truly Christian life. Another of his favourite passages was the 13th chapter of 1st Corinthians.
No sketch of Eric's life, however inadequate, would be complete without some reference to his gift of happiness and joie-de-vivre. He loved the good things of life as much as any of us. But all his happiness-- the happiness that shone so radiantly on his face-- all his happiness had its basis in his serene faith in God, his love for God, and his appreciation of God's gifts."
Eric Liddell's teaching:
"Several years ago I sat in the grand stand at a great sports meeting where the finest athletes of the USA and the British empire met in competition. There was an Obstacle Run in which competitors had to run around the course many times, jumping hurdles as they went. After several rounds the competitors were fairly well separated, except for the first two who were running within ten yards of each other.
As the first man took one of the hurdles his foot struck the top of it and knocked it over. The blow was not hard enough to affect him much, a slight stagger and on he went. The fallen hurdle left a gap. It gave the second man the chance to run through the gap instead of taking a jump and thus gain a slight advantage.
Ten yards behind means less than two seconds.
In the fraction of a second at his disposal a decision was made, he swerved to the side, jumped the hurdle next to the fallen one and then moved back in to the edge of the track again.
I can remember the thrill that went through me, and the answering cheer that rose from the crowd. That was the finest thing done that day.
He did not win; I have forgotten who did, but I can never forget that action. He could not act otherwise, he was led by the Spirit of Sportsmanship. It was ingrained in him, part of himself.
Sport is wonderful. The most wonderful part of it is not almost superhuman achievements but the spirit in which it is done. Take away that spirit and it is dead.
The Holy Spirit is to the Christian Life what sportsmanship is to sport and more. Without Him in our lives, even at the best, we are little better than Tennyson's Maud:
'Perfectly beautiful: let it be granted her: where is the fault?
All that I saw (for her eyes were downcast, not to be seen)
Faultily faultless, icily regular, splendidly null
Dead perfection and no more.'
Or in terms of sport: --
a marvellous player, beautiful strokes, magnificent timing, perfect style, but no sportsmanship about him, Dead perfection, no more."
"Whether a man's happiness depends on what he has, or what he is;
On outer circumstances, or inner heart,
On life's experiences -- good and bad -- or on what he makes out of the materials those experiences provide."
-- Hugh Hubbard
"Breathe on me breath of God,
Fill me with life anew
That I may love what Thou dost love,
And do what Thou wouldst do."
Hymn: Gracious Spirit, Dwell With Me
by Thomas Toke Lynch
Gracious Spirit, dwell with me, I myself would gracious be,
And with words that help and heal, would Thy life reveal,
And with actions bold and meek, would for Christ my Saviour speak.
Mighty Spirit dwell with me, I myself would mighty be
Mighty so as to prevail, where unaided men must fail
Ever by a mighty hope, pressing on and bearing up.
Finlandia
Be still, my soul: the Lord is on they side;
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
Leave to they God to order and provide;
In every change He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend
Through thorny ways lead to a joyful end. |
