Eric Liddell

The movie Chariots of Fire is the story of Eric Liddell, who won the gold medal in the men's 400 meter race in the 1924 Olympics. In one scene, Eric's sister expresses her concern that running is distracting him from his calling to be missionary to China. Eric tells her: "I believe God made me for a purpose and that purpose is China, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure."

I know what it's like to feel God's pleasure and I feel it when I hike. I feel God's pleasure in my body in the rhythm of walking and breathing. I know the joy and satisfaction of hiking over a steep mountain pass or covering 20+ miles a day. I feel God's pleasure in nature: "God saw all that he had made, and it was very good" Genesis 1:31. I feel the sun, wind, and rain and hear the sounds of nature. I see the clouds, trees, flowers and grass and rejoice in knowing the God who made it all. Here is a good blog post that also takes Eric Liddell's words and applies them in a very theological and practical way. You don't have to hike 2,650 miles to honor God with your body! Keep calm and hike on.

"The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why." Mark Twain