The Final Race: The Incredible World War II Story of the Olympian Who Inspired Chariots of Fire
The Final Race: The Incredible World War II Story of the Olympian Who Inspired Chariots of Fire
Audio CD(MP3 on CD - Unabridged)
-
PICK UP IN STORECheck Availability at Nearby Stores
Available within 2 business hours
Related collections and offers
Overview
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781538491034 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Blackstone Audio, Inc. |
| Publication date: | 04/03/2018 |
| Edition description: | Unabridged |
| Product dimensions: | 5.30(w) x 7.50(h) x (d) |
About the Author
Eric T. Eichinger is an ordained minister in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. He holds degrees from Michigan State University, where he ran varsity track and field, and Concordia Seminary. Prior to his pastoral call, he served with World Mission for two years in China. He is currently senior pastor at Bethel Lutheran Church in Clearwater, Florida.
Eva Marie Everson was born and brought up near Savannah, Georgia. A seminary graduate and former nurse-turned-Christian novelist, her previous books include The Potluck Club, Things Left Unspoken, and Chasing Sunsets.
Eva Marie Everson was born and brought up near Savannah, Georgia. A seminary graduate and former nurse-turned-Christian novelist, her previous books include The Potluck Club, Things Left Unspoken, and Chasing Sunsets.
Read an Excerpt
CHAPTER 1
ANOTHER RACE
A man's pride will bring him low, but a humble spirit will obtain honor.
Proverbs 29:23, NASB
July 19, 1924
Journalists crowded London's King's Cross railway station platform like hunters in midstalk. They milled around, searching the faces of passengers urgently headed toward their respective train compartments. Their office-issued pads and nubby No. 2 pencils were poised to jot down the perfect quote, which by morning's print — and with the right framing — would become the next sports page headline. Cameramen, not to be outdone, vied from equal vantage points. They readied their flashbulbs in hope of seizing their unsuspecting victim and, in doing so, capturing their prize — an exclusive photograph of the nation's most recently crowned hero.
They had not been so lucky earlier that warm Saturday afternoon at the Stamford Bridge track, where a special relays meet between the British Empire and the United States of America had been held. Eric Liddell, the newly minted 400- meter gold-medal champion, was to run in the relay, only a week into his Olympic glory. Because his medal still had not arrived by mail, the sheen of his athleticism had yet to hang around his neck.
In the whirlwind seven days since breaking the world record in the 400 meters, Eric had received his bachelor of science from the University of Edinburgh, had been capped ceremoniously by Sir Alfred Ewing with a crown of oleaster sprigs, and had been carried out of McEwan Hall by his fellow classmates. He had given speeches, been honored at a dinner, and then made his way by train to London and Stamford Bridge. There, surrounded by a stadium built to hold more than forty thousand spectators, he and Horatio Fitch (Britain's and the United States' best sprinters, respectively) waited for their teammates to hand them the baton for the final 400- meter leg of the mile relay.
This race was the last event of the meet, and Britain was starved for some homeland firepower near the end of a disappointing race day. They were down to the last leg. Fitch got his baton first and took off.
Liddell — dubbed "the Flying Scot" on sports pages across his country — received his baton four yards behind in chase.
During the Olympic Games held in Paris the week previous, these same two men had dueled during the heats, quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals of the Olympic 400 meters. Fitch had run in the first semifinal, breaking an Olympic record to come in first place at 47.8 seconds. Eric had run in the second semifinal, coming in first at 48.2 seconds. The odds had been in Fitch's favor.
But Eric Liddell had something to prove — something beyond the Olympics. His was another race. His, a greater prize.
Much to Fitch's shock — and the world's — in 47.6 seconds, Eric Liddell had trounced all competitors and odds, crossing the finish line with a first-place win and in world-record time.
A week later, at Stamford Bridge, Fitch had retaliation in mind. The win should have come easily — Eric Liddell had spent the past week at graduation and banquets, leaving him no time for practice. The man's muscles would be practically atrophied, surely.
At two hundred yards, Liddell had made up two of the four yards between the men. Then, as they rounded the last turn, Liddell's head went back, a sure sign. Often it had been said that when the Flying Scotsman's "heid went back," he "culdna' lose."
Eric Liddell took over in the last straightaway, outrunning Fitch by a commanding four yards. His split time equaled his gold standard from the Olympics, and the hunger of the London crowd had been satisfied once again, but without compromise from Liddell.
With the race over, and in his typical fashion, Liddell shook hands with Fitch and the others, quietly gathered his belongings, waved to the crowd, and left the limelight as swiftly as he could.
No gloating. No interviews.
Since his boyhood, Eric's nature — to ward off pride and avoid attention when at all possible — had always been contrary to many self-promoting athletes and fame-seeking performers. Aware of his ascent in the public's eye, he had been careful to not allow success to go to his head. Over the course of the past week, he had realized that winning gold for his nation — in the way he had won — had catapulted him into a new stratosphere of unanticipated celebrity.
Now, as the late-afternoon sun beat down on King's Cross, Eric caught wind of the reporters awaiting him. The attention did not appear to be ending anytime in the near future. But what he wanted — what he needed — was to retreat into a solitary bed compartment and sleep in peace for his ride home. He hoped to find a way to circumvent the onslaught of questions, which would invariably add volume to his own vanity. And if he didn't answer correctly, his responses could easily be misconstrued. He looked around for a solution, but all entrances to his train were blocked.
Eric sighed, realizing he had little choice but to endure the questions and the blinding flashes of camera bulbs.
As he accepted his unusual defeat, Eric spied a baggage porter. Head bent under his trademarked hat, the older man nimbly pushed a luggage rack through the sea of travelers. Eric ducked his chin and, weaving through the crowd, made his way to the porter.
"Excuse me, sir," he said, keeping his voice low. "I wonder if you might do me a favor."
The porter listened as Eric explained the situation. "Would you be so kind as to loan me your cap and luggage rack?"
The porter's eyes scanned the crowd, whose voices had risen in the rush of the usual goodbyes. He smiled at the conspiracy, then removed his hat and handed it to Eric. "My pleasure, Mr. Liddell," he said, smoothing back his disheveled hair. "Just add your bags to the rack here and make your way to that car over there."
Eric dipped into his pocket and slipped a sizable tip into the porter's hand. "Thank you, my good man," he said before shrewdly pushing the luggage rack. As the porter had done, Eric kept his head down, but he cast his eyes to the train cars and walked straight through the unsuspecting media.
After loading the luggage, he boarded the train undetected while the porter watched from the outskirts, a smile curling his lips.
*
THE PUBLIC AND LOCAL MEDIA could not recognize or appreciate the extraordinary pressures Eric Liddell was under. Questions of when to conclude his running career, when to leave for China, whether or not to enter seminary, how long to be apart from his family, the ever-closing window of opportunity to secure a wife — all were methodical drips increasing a dull pound in his thoughts. No matter which avenue he chose, all ultimately meant what seemed unthinkable to most — he would turn his back on fame.
For good.
And he was not about to open his heart to prying journalists as he mulled over his decisions. Had he indulged their inquiries, they could not have come to terms with the seriousness of the dilemma and the magnitude of the situation. The choice to leave his full life in Britain — to trade it for the obscurity of the Far East — seemed senseless to them.
To everyone. Nearly.
The public knew of Liddell's missionary lineage and had caught wind that he might possibly join in the efforts of his family eventually. But capitalizing solely on the potential of his success kept their interest. The Flying Scotsman had achieved so much, and so much more lay at his fingertips. Fanning the flame of stardom was a necessary act. They simply would not understand why he — or anyone, for that matter — would willingly walk away from the admiration and celebrity status they continued to lavish upon him.
To sacrifice everything earned and live a life of practical anonymity seemed more drastic than necessary. If he made the choice for China, he would walk into a place and time where no one knew him and where British citizens were despised.
Besides, couldn't he stay in England and do more for Christ there than in China? He already drew huge crowds of people — people who came to listen as he shared his Christian faith. A tremendous platform had already been set up for him.
How could he top that?
But journalists and fans alike could not know the depths of their newly crowned gold medalist. Where most people would give anything for the attention, Eric had learned to avoid it when possible. This was no feigned avoidance. At only twenty-two, he already recognized that these had been his "days of comfort," and that temptations befall a man when narcissism comes into play.
Not only was Eric the most famous Brit of his time, he was also an eligible bachelor. It wasn't easy getting to know a young lady who didn't recognize him or who already had high expectations of what he was like. Genuine seriousness was hard enough to identify for any young man seeking someone to marry, let alone for the most popular individual in the country. Still, he reasoned, the probability of finding the love of his life in China seemed astronomically low.
For Eric, the crossroads of life had never been dull. This one was no exception.
*
Once safe and unrecognized in his train compartment, Eric looked through the window dotted with a child's recent nose prints and chuckled at the reporters who realized, as the crowd thinned out, that they had missed their chance. Again. He situated his belongings, then stretched out, closed his eyes, and let out a long breath, releasing the tension his body had held unconsciously since stepping onto the platform.
Pride cometh before the fall.
The words danced about in his head. Oh, yes. He knew the line well, and he had no intention of dooming himself to its clarion prophecy. But uncertainties abounded, and how he would navigate the waters that lay directly ahead of him had to be determined soon.
But soon would come quickly enough. For now, what he really needed was to rest.
The whistle blew, and with a jerk, the train pulled away from the station, heading toward Edinburgh. With any luck, he'd make it home in time to get a little sleep in his own bed before morning. Before another set of responsibilities lay before him.
After all, the following day was a Sunday.
(Continues…)
Excerpted from "The Final Race"
by .
Copyright © 2018 Surrender Films, LLC.
Excerpted by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc..
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
Table of Contents
Authors' Note ix
Prologue Our Race xiii
1 Another Race 1
Part 1 The First 100: Prepare for the Day
2 Foundations 9
3 The Starter's Pistol 17
4 Muscular Christianity 23
5 Olympic Mind Games 31
6 Into Battle 39
7 A Victory Lap 47
8 Doctrinal Discernment 57
Part 2 The Second 100: Run the Distance
9 A Sort of Homecoming 73
10 A Slow Bloom 83
11 Ordinary Time, Extraordinary Days 91
12 Onward and Upward 101
13 A Gaze into the Looking Glass 111
14 Patience and Tact 123
15 Steadfast Wedlock 133
16 A Prophet in His Hometown 145
17 An Island of Peace 155
18 Keep Calm and Carry On 165
19 Together Apart 177
Part 3 The Third 100: Faith in the Day of Hardship
20 An Unexpected Opportunity 185
21 Detainment 195
22 Incurvatus In Se 205
23 Discipleship 217
24 Eric Is In 225
25 Good Night, Sweet Prince 233
26 Eric Is Out 243
27 A Liddell Epilogue 253
Epilogue The Final 100: The Race before Us 259
Afterword 263
Acknowledgments 269
Notes 271
About the Authors 277
What People are Saying About This
Like Eichinger and Everson’s remarkable work, I have been captivated by Eric Liddell’s story for over thirty years. It was immensely gratifying to discover that The Final Race holds true to the man’s incredible legacy while crafting a beautiful tale. Highly recommended.
Eric Liddell’s life of loving service is a testimony to his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. His story is worthy of remembrance and celebration, and The Final Race is an enriching and rewarding testament. Like the Apostle Paul before him, Eric Liddell has “run the race,” entering the joy of his Master. This book will help you enter into that race as well. I encourage you to read and be refreshed.
The story of Eric Liddell after his Chariots of Fire Olympic glory is both inspiring and challenging. Pastor Eichinger takes us on a thrilling yet heartbreaking journey of courage and self-sacrifice. He digs deeper into not only what made Liddell an all-time great on the track but also the difficulties of balancing God’s calling with the demands of responsibility to family. Set in World War II China, The Final Race is a timely reminder that true faithfulness often leads to great sacrifice, but also great reward.
Pastor Eric Eichinger has done a masterful job of introducing us to Eric Liddell’s life after Chariots of Fire. Since he both served as a missionary to China and ran track in college, Rev. Eichinger is able to capture Liddell’s story in a unique and engaging way. Far from picturing the Christian life as one of pure glory and victory, The Final Race reminds us that following Christ means bearing a cross, having to sacrifice what we love at times and even living in uncertainty. Yet in all of this, Liddell’s life points to the reality that God’s grace always prevails and that the blood of Christ offers the only true hope there is. The Final Race is sure to inspire and encourage all of us who have to bear a cross.
The Final Race offers a refreshing, compelling reminder of someone who lived by his principles regardless of circumstance. With this engaging account of Olympic hero Eric Liddell’s life story, Eric Eichinger has given a solid example that should be considered by all endeavoring to live a life of virtue today.
Many know the story of the Flying Scot, Eric Liddell, whose Christian conscience would not let him run in the 1924 Paris Olympics on a Sunday. Though he had trained for the 100-meter event, he had to switch to the 400-meter instead—and won the gold! It was all told in the book and movie Chariots of Fire.What more is there to say? Plenty! Another Eric (named Eichinger) now tells the rest of the story in his fascinating book The Final Race. With gifted pen, he tells of Liddell’s subsequent career as a missionary teacher in China and how his efforts there became a powerful witness to Christianity and culture in the Far East. As a celebrity, doors were open to him, and he faithfully used them to do the work of the Lord in remarkable fashion.What happened after the Olympics was by far the most significant part of Liddell’s life, and Eichinger nobly rescues it from oblivion, offering a true account, brimming with triumphs, tragedies, love, and violence—all set against the brutality of the Japanese invasion of China at the start of World War II. In these pages, Eric Eichinger has given us the genuine sequel in Liddell’s life, providing a true tale that will grip readers and fire their spirits.
The Final Race is a gripping read of the rest of the Eric Liddell story. This chariot of fire of God’s grace didn’t merely bask in Olympic glory but sacrificed it all to run the race of his life and to share the gospel of Jesus in China. Author Eric Eichinger does a wonderful job showing Liddell’s humanity, his struggles, his tenacity, and above all his persevering faith. It’s a riveting story of the love of Christ leading the way, amidst the hurdles of culture and resources, as well as the overwhelming atrocities of war, concentration camps, poverty, and false ideologies. In the midst of it all, Liddell’s life is a compelling story of the love of Christ, a race that he ran to win so that others would be blessed, to give God glory. Truth be told, his service was just a reflection of his Savior, the one he always wants you to meet through it all. Eichinger compellingly brings to life this story that will have you turning the pages in anticipation. It’s a story that surely will bless all who read it.
The Final Race recounts the heroic story of Eric Liddell with passion and grit. Author Eric Eichinger shares how Liddell finished the ultimate race of life with commitment, determination, and self-sacrifice. Faith, family, war, romance, struggle, and victory combine to show that Eric Liddell was much more than an Olympic hero. He was a hero who changed lives for eternity.