Movies Say It Best

In my first blog post last year I told you my story and how I wanted this blog to continue to tell the story of how my relationship with Jesus Christ intertwines with my passion for endurance racing.  It hasn't been the easiest for me to express this clearly.  I still haven't quite gotten the hang of this "telling a story" thing.  Thank God for Hollywood and the movie Chariots of Fire!  

I had never actually seen that movie all the way through until I came across it on TV last night.  The movie did exactly what my hope for this blog is.   Now I realize that the main character, Eric Liddell, is a world-class athlete who won Olympic gold, which is on a whole different level from what I do or will ever do.  

That being said, when Eric Liddell says, "I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast.  And when I run I feel His pleasure," this resonated to my core.  When I am able to get in a groove during a training session or during a race I feel that God made me the way I am for that exact moment.  It is hard to describe the exact feeling.  All I can say is that it is a beautiful feeling.  

In an awards ceremony speech Eric Liddell articulates beautifully the parallel of running a physical race and faith in Christ.  He is able to challenge the crowd to do more than just watch a race.  He invites them to take part in it.  Speaking in terms of the journey with Jesus:

         "You came to see a race today. To see someone win. It happened to be me. But I want    you to do more than just watch a race. I want you to take part in it. I want to compare faith to running in a race. It's hard. It requires concentration of will, energy of soul. You experience elation when the winner breaks the tape - especially if you've got a bet on it. But how long does that last? You go home. Maybe you're dinner's burnt. Maybe you haven't got a job. So who am I to say, "Believe, have faith," in the face of life's realities? I would like to give you something more permanent, but I can only point the way. I have no formula for winning the race. Everyone runs in her own way, or his own way. And where does the power come from, to see the race to its end? From within. Jesus said, "Behold, the Kingdom of God is within you. If with all your hearts, you truly seek me, you shall ever surely find me." If you commit yourself to the love of Christ, then that is how you run a straight race."


Exquisite!  I couldn't say it better and that is why I didn't try.  


Our church back home (http://gracechurchsc.org/) in Greenville, SC recently went through the book of Ruth (http://gracechurchsc.org/resources/grace-teaching/).  What I am learning is that action trumps everything and movement is how God works.  Now the challenge is stepping out and trusting God will meet me as I pursue Him in the world around me.  


Happy training!