“But those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)
I heard those words for the first time in a stirring sermon delivered by Eric Liddell, the great Scottish runner, in the movie Chariots of Fire. The film was the story of the Olympics the last time they were in Paris one hundred years ago. In the movie, the sermon was interspersed with scenes of Eric’s British teammates struggling to persevere in their various events, often in the midst of harsh rains and challenging conditions.
Earlier in the movie, Eric faced a great challenge. Not long after the start of his event, one of the other runners bumped Eric, and he rolled into the grass at the side of the track. Eric got up, came all the way from the back, overcame runner after runner, and won the race. Later, his coach described him as “running like a wild animal.”
I believe that is how God runs after us. Despite our sins and shortcomings, God still longs for us. God even becomes one of us to teach us, deliver us, and, most of all, to love us. The amazing thing about our shared story is the downright persistence of God.
God not only runs after us but drives us to run after each other. For me, the two most memorable scenes in Chariots of Fire were not the running scenes. The first was in the locker room before a race in which Eric Liddell was to compete against his major British rival, Harold Abrahams, for the first time. The tension in the locker room was heightened by silence. Eric thinks for a minute, and then he walks across the room to Harold. He extends his hand, and Harold takes it. Then he says, “Mr. Abrahams, I wish you the best of success in today’s race.”
And, later in the film, Harold Abrahams wins the 100-meter dash, the event from which Eric Liddell withdrew to maintain his religious integrity by not running on a Sunday. Eric comes up to Harold and offers the sincerest handshake of congratulations. As the two shake hands and smile at each other, you see that the two rivals have become teammates. Instead of running against each other, they were now running for each other.
When I think of those two handshakes, I am reminded of how God is constantly reaching out a hand towards humanity. It is God’s hand that pulls us out of the mire. It is God’s hand that lifts us up and encourages us to love, endure, and stretch out our hands to lift someone else up. God never gives up on us and always runs after us.
Thank you, Paul. This is a keeper; a blog to be re-read.
Malinda,
You’re welcome. Glad it spoke to you.
Blessings,
Paul
Makes me want to see Chariots of Fire again. Thank you, Paul.
Bill,
You’re welcome. As you can probably tell, it’s my favorite movie. Hope you do see it again!
Blessings,
Paul
Bill,
You’re welcome. As you can probably tell, it’s my favorite movie. Hope you do see it again!
Blessings,
Paul
Thankfully, I think God has been chasing me all day…And I will re-watch Chariots of Fire.
Nancy,
I’m glad God’s chasing all of us! Hope you enjoy the movie again!
Blessings,
Paul
Thanks, Paul. I love this movie and your reflection. I watched with my grandchildren last summer.
Christy,
You’re welcome. Glad you are a fellow lover of “Chariots of Fire” and shared it with your grandchildren!
Blessings,
Paul
As I recall the movie opens and closes with a choir singing the hymn “Jerusalem” at Harold Abrams funeral service. I believe the decision to anchor the movie with this hymn was intentional and in keeping with the theme of brotherhood and a better, classless society. Based on the poem “and did those feet” written in by William Blake in 1808 “Jerusalem” was put to music by Sir Hubert Parry in 1916. The poem and the resulting hymn spoke out about the social injustices and class system of early industrial England. It speaks of the “Dark Satanic Mills” of the British industrial revolution and was a call to create an ideal society in England. Jerusalem is a metaphor for a just and equitable society. Blake exhorts the reader to create such a society in the words of the third and fourth verses.
Bring me my Bow of burning gold:
Bring me my Arrows of desire:
Bring me my Spear: O clouds unfold:
Bring me my Chariot of fire!
I will not cease from Mental Fight,
Nor shall my Sword sleep in my hand:
Till we have built Jerusalem,
In England’s green & pleasant Land.
These words ring true for us today with powerful imagery.
Added note: The somewhat “sanitized” version of “Jerusalem with words written by William Daw is lovely and inspiring, but lacks the power of Blake’s words.
Barney,
I always thought the singing of “Jerusalem” by the boys choir at the beginning of the film was one of its most stirring moments. But, I didn’t realize the significance of it until reading your reflection. Thanks so much for sharing this. Now I know where the film may have gotten its title!
Blessings,
Paul