Chaplain’s Note

10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 4:10-11

It’s Paris. It’s the Olympics. It’s 1924.

100 years ago, Eric Liddell took his starting spot in the finals for the 400 meters. More than 6,000 paying spectators filled the stadium on that warm Friday night in Paris, a century ago, when the starting pistol fired and the Scottish runner took off from the outside lane.

The only problem was, he was in the wrong race.

Liddell entered the 400-meter race only after learning that the heats for his best Olympic event, the 100 meters, would fall on a Sunday. He withdrew from that event, holding fast to his Christian convictions about observing the Sabbath.

He communicated his intentions privately and behind the scenes, with no public fanfare. It became newsworthy only when the press became aware and began sharing their opinions.

Some admired his convictions, while others saw him as disloyal and unpatriotic. Many could not comprehend his inflexible stand. It was just one Sunday, and at a time when Sabbath practices in the English-speaking world were rapidly changing. Besides, the event itself would not happen until the afternoon, giving Liddell plenty of time to attend church services in the morning. Why give up a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bring honour to himself and his country?

Liddell recognised that the world was changing. But the Sabbath, as he understood and practiced it, was to be a full day of worship and rest. It was, for him, a matter of personal integrity and Christian obedience.

Throughout the public debate about his decision, Liddell did not raise complaints about discrimination and oppression. He did not blast the Olympic committee for their refusal to accommodate Sabbath-keeping Christians. He did not take aim at fellow Christian athletes for their willingness to compete on Sunday. He simply made his decision and accepted the consequences: Gold in the 100 meters was not an option.

Liddell was willing to sacrifice athletic glory for his convictions but also a joyful athlete engaging in sports simply for the love of it—and because through it he felt God’s presence.

If this were the end of the story, Liddell’s example would be an inspiring model of faithfulness—and also a forgotten footnote in history.

Back to the starting pistol. Bang!

Few expected him to have a chance in the significantly longer race.

Many then believed that the 400 meters required runners to pace themselves for the final stretch. Liddell took a different approach. Instead of holding back for the end, Liddell used his speed to push the boundaries of what was possible, turning the race into a start-to-finish sprint.

Liddell later described his approach as “running the first 200 meters as hard as I could, and then, with God’s help, running the second 200 meters even harder.”

47.6 seconds later, Liddell had set a new world record, leaving his competitors in awe and his fans grasping to make sense of what they had just witnessed.

News of Liddell’s achievement quickly spread back home through the press and the radio. He arrived in Scotland as a conquering hero; those who had criticised his Sabbath convictions now praised him for his principled stand.

The stadium where he raced has been renovated for use in the 2024 games and displays a plaque in his honour.

The Olympics are a great opportunity to see people striving in the event of their lives.

1 Peter 4 reminds us that we are all in the event of our lives. The event is our life. “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” (1 Peter 4:10)

We too must make decisions each day between character and glory.

Both of these words are included in our school prayer, where “the humblest among us in age or rank may add to the character and glory of our school” through “a love of truth, goodness and sincerity”.

It is the quiet work of integrity which produces true champions in life.

If you made it to the Olympics, I’m sure that like Grae Morris the Old Cranbrookian (OC ’21) who spoke to us in assembly last term, and who won silver in his windsurfing event, you would give it your best. To most of the world, we here at this school, in this city, in this country, at this time in history we are Olympians of prosperity and opportunity.

So, make the most of your event. Use the gifts you have. Don’t submit to mediocrity or lose sight of your responsibility.

If things don’t happen as you planned, change your plans. Run 400 metres instead of 100.

We are all in an event of Olympic importance, not just every 4 years, but every 24 hours. Let’s make the most of the opportunity and be faithful stewards of the gifts we’ve been given.