From his birth, to his death, Eric Liddell was a great man. Men of Faith: Eric Liddell, by Catherine Swift, is a great book for all ages. It describes Eric’s personality, and his ideas in a way that amazes the reader. I firmly believe that this is a wonderful book, and it is quite capable of making you laugh when Eric tricks his wife into naming their second daughter Heather, and cry when he dies because he worked so hard to help others.
Eric Liddell was born in Tientsin, China, on January 16th 1902. His father, James Liddell, was a missionary in China, so Eric and his elder brother, Robbie, grew up very differently from you or me. However, when James got leave to go home to Scotland, Eric and Robbie were sent to a school for missionary children. They live there while their family (their mom, dad, and little sister Jenny) went back to China.
At school, Eric excelled. His grades were always high, and he was great at sports. Yet, it wasn’t until he went to Edinburgh University that he really began to show his God given abilities. Eric was described as rather shy, but extremely mischievous; he ran with his eyes towards the heavens, his knees coming up to his chin, and his arms flailing out in all directions and beating at the air. When running, he looked rather ridiculous, but whatever people thought about how he looked, he still made it to the Olympics, and won a gold medal in the 400 meter.
The Olympics changed Eric’s view of what he wanted to do in life. That is why in 1925 we find him back in China, the home of his youth. During his time in China, Eric preached the gospel, prayed for many things, taught at a school, created mischief, and generally gained the respect of all who knew him. He died in 1945, at the Weihsien internment camp. He left behind a widow and three young daughters.
But we know that death is not the end and all who’s faith and trust is in Jesus Christ, have hope of a better life in heaven. Eric Liddell was a great man of amazing strength, who achieved things that seemed impossible.
I would definitely recommend this, detailed, book about his life to any one.
