Running in the Right Lane

In 1924, Scottish sprinter Eric Liddell arrived at the Paris Olympics as the favorite in the 100 meters. But when he learned the heats were scheduled on a Sunday, he withdrew. The press called him a fool. Critics said he was throwing away his one chance at glory.

Liddell didn't see it that way. He knew his purpose was bigger than a gold medal.

He switched to the 400 meters — a race he had barely trained for. When the starter's pistol fired, Liddell ran with his head tilted back, arms churning in that awkward, unmistakable style. He crossed the finish line in 47.6 seconds, a new Olympic record. Gold.

Years later, as depicted in the film Chariots of Fire, Liddell explained his conviction simply: "God made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure."

But here is what made Liddell extraordinary. He didn't stay on the track. He left competitive running behind and spent the rest of his life as a missionary in China, eventually dying in a Japanese internment camp in 1945. The man who could have spent decades basking in Olympic fame chose a dusty schoolroom in Tianjin instead.

Liddell understood what Paul wrote in Philippians 3:14 — pressing toward the mark of a higher calling. Purpose isn't about running the race the world picks for you. It's about running the one the Almighty sets before you, even when nobody is cheering.