Running Toward What Matters

In 1924, Scottish sprinter Eric Liddell arrived at the Paris Olympics as the favorite in the 100-meter dash. Then he learned the heats were scheduled for a Sunday. Liddell, a devout Christian who honored the Sabbath, withdrew from his best event. The British press called him a traitor. Teammates urged him to compromise. He would not budge.

Instead, Liddell entered the 400 meters — a race he had barely trained for. Before the final, a team masseur slipped him a note with a line from 1 Samuel 2:30: "Those who honour me I will honour." Liddell ran the race of his life, crossing the finish line in 47.6 seconds, shattering the world record and winning gold.

Years later, Liddell left competitive running entirely. He went to China as a missionary, where he served until his death in a Japanese internment camp in 1945. When people asked how he could walk away from athletic glory, he offered a line the film Chariots of Fire would make immortal: "God made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure."

Purpose is not about finding the thing you do best. Purpose is about finding the One you do it for. When your identity is rooted in the God who made you, even a wrong race becomes the right one — because you are running for Him.