Encouragement

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Larry Lilly's Letter Friday August 19, 2005

A news release from Great Britain gives acount of an August 17th celebration held to commemorate the liberation of a concentration camp. Some who had survived the horrible ordeal were on hand for the festivities.

Mr. Stephen Metcalf, who was a former prisoner, now 78 years of age, joined with 24 other former internees in the celebration.

The site of the former concentration camp is now the home of a Middle School.

Mr. Metcalf returned to this city and served as a missionary for over forty years.

He was inspired during the internment by a man who gave him two things:

"The best thing he gave me was the baton of forgiveness. He taught me to love my enemies and to pray for them." He also gave me his worn out running shoes."

It was winter and like many boys Stephen had no shoes.

The man of whom Mr. Metcalf speaks is a famous runner who so inspired the people of his day with his love for Christ that he set precedents which lasted for over half a century on the world stage of the Olympics.

Eric Liddell became world famous for refusing to run his race on Sunday during the 1924 Olympics held in Paris. He ran in another race and won. His story was told a few years ago in the powerful film, Chariots of Fire.

After the Olympics, with the world at his feet, Eric went back to China where he had grown up as an MK, Missionary Kid, and worked in the city where the concentration camp was located. He died in the Japanese Concentration Camp at Weifang, China on February 21, 1945 of a brain tumor. He suffered horribly.

Stephen Metcalf, profoundly influenced by Eric Liddell as a young boy said:

"Eric Liddell was a great Olympic champion who gave it all up to come to teach the youth of China."

Long after the glory of the 1924 Olympics has passed from memory on page or brain tissue, the commitment of Eric Liddell to the service of Christ will live on in the realm of the Savior.

Eric Liddell, unlike so many today understood the truth of a cliché:

"Only one life, twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last."

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2005 Use with credit.

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