Posted on 07/28/2024 1:05:37 PM PDT by Retain Mike
On a sweltering July afternoon in 1924, Eric Liddell walked onto the track in a Paris stadium carrying a trowel. Pinned to the front of his short-sleeved shirt was a piece of cloth bearing the number 451. When Liddell reached the track, he bent down and dug two small holes in the center of lane 6.
Then he walked up to each of the other five competitors in the 400-meter dash final and shook their hands.
Moments earlier, one of the British team’s masseurs had handed a note to the 22-year-old Scottish runner: “In the old book, it says, ‘He that honors me, I will honor.’”
It was a fitting reminder for Liddell, who’d sacrificed much on his way to the 1924 Olympics. It also turned out to be prophetic.
At the crack of the starter’s pistol, Liddell bounded forward. He covered the first 200 meters at a blistering pace: 22.2 seconds. He ran harder, if possible, in the second 200, finishing 5 meters ahead of the second man to cross the line, the bespectacled American Horatio Fitch.
Thunderous applause cascaded from the stands to the track. Liddell’s gold medal finish surprised everyone, including Liddell. Even more surprising: His sizzling 47.6-second sprint set two records, one for the world and one for the Olympics.
Fitch, who had set a world record in the semifinals, was astonished that someone could sprint the entire 400 meters.
“Our coach told us not to worry about Liddell because he was a sprinter, and he’d pass out 50 yards from the finish,” Fitch recalled in an interview 60 years later.”
But Liddell, known as the “Flying Scotsman,” told reporters after his victory that he employed a simple but effective strategy. “I run the first 200 meters as hard as I can. Then for the second 200 meters, with God’s help, I run harder.”
(Excerpt) Read more at wng.org ...
Great reminder. Chariots of Fire is the quintessential uplifting movie.
We have endured the first 200 meter run when our president was shot and he survived the assassination attempt because of the prayers of God’s faithful remnant who constantly without ceasing prayed for him. Now we run the last 100 meters harder and we need God more than ever to bless us with a BIGGER miracle as we near the finishing line. Only by the grace of God will we have total victory in November 5. 🙏🏻. PLEASE LORD LET IT BE YOUR WILL🙏🏻
Uplifting movie. A downer that the actor who played Liddell was gay and died of AIDS.
I know. But then, that is the state of the UK. The nation has had an epidemic of homosexuality among its educated classes since the early 19th century.
Well said.
Thank you, Precious Lord, for sparing our true President from murder by Deep State evil-doers. Please continue to guard President Trump.
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