Chaplain’s Note
Last assembly, I reflected on the choice made 100 years ago at the 1924 Paris Olympics by Eric Liddell to not contest his favoured 100m due to the heats being held on a Sunday; a day which he dedicated to God rather than sport. The story of his choice and subsequent decision to run in the 400m instead, which he won in world record setting time, became the subject of the 1981 film Chariots of Fire. But Liddell’s life didn’t end when he crossed that finish line, he went on to continue to make principled choices in challenging situations. Those choices became the subject of another film, this time starring Joseph Fiennes, 2016’s On Eagles Wings.
After the 1924 Olympics Lidell returned to the University of Edinburgh, graduated with a Science degree and went on to study Theology for a year, after which he decided to become a missionary teacher in northern China. He taught science at the Anglo-Chinese college and later decided to become an evangelist in rural China, travelling by foot and bicycle.
Eric returned to Scotland only twice, in 1932 and again in 1939. On one occasion he was asked if he ever regretted his decision to leave behind the fame and glory of athletics.
Eric responded,
“It’s natural for a chap to think over all that sometimes, but I’m glad I’m at the work I’m engaged in now. A fellow’s life counts for far more at this than the other.”
Later, a vacancy opened at in Shandong Province, but the opportunity coincided with the arrival of the Japanese army. Shandong was in a state of chaos due to the war. Liddell spent much of his energy rescuing wounded soldiers, knowing that if caught he would be sentenced to death by the Japanese. With the outbreak of The Second World War in 1939, the danger for missionaries intensified. Eric’s wife, Florence, and their three girls travelled to safety in Canada, but Eric made the difficult choice to remain in China. In 1943 he and all his missionary colleagues were arrested and held in a Japanese internment camp at Weifang in Shandong.
For Eric Liddell, being imprisoned with more than 2,000 other foreigners (including 327 children) meant an opportunity to teach and encourage the downcast, and he threw all his energy into his activities.
One account of life in the internment camp said:
…Not only did Eric Liddell organise sports and recreation, through his time in internment camp he helped many people through teaching and tutoring. He gave special care to the older people, the weak, and the ill, to whom the conditions in camp were very trying. He was always involved in the Christian meetings which were a part of camp life. Despite the squalor of the open cesspools, rats, flies and disease in the crowded camp, life took on a very normal routine, though without the faithful and cheerful support of Eric Liddell, many people would never have been able to manage.
What was his secret? He unreservedly committed his life to Jesus Christ as his Saviour and Lord. That friendship meant everything to him. By the flickering light of a peanut-oil lamp early each morning, he and a roommate in the men’s cramped dormitory, studied the Bible and talked with God for an hour every day.
After nearly two years of incarceration and separation from his family, Liddell’s health began to break down. The end came quickly, and on February 21, 1945, the missionary, teacher, 7-times Scotland test rugby player and Olympic champion went to be with God, just months before the end of the War.
Dr. Norman Cliff, who was imprisoned with Eric, recalled this,
Eric Liddell would say, “When you speak of me, give the glory to my master, Jesus Christ.” He would not want us to think solely of him. He would want us to see the Christ whom he served.
In 2015, a marble sculpture of the athlete turned missionary, captured in mid-stride, was unveiled in Tianjin, a rare thing in Communist China. His remains lie next to it, marked by a headstone carved from Isle of Mull granite with a simple inscription from Isaiah 40:31: “They shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary.”
In life and death, he exemplified the words of Hebrews 12:1-4, notice the athletic language:
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.
And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.
For the joy that was set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
Rod Farraway
Chaplain