I'm surprised they didn't mention anything about Eric's years serving the poor peasant population of Zaoqiang (from 1937 - 1941). He literally saved lives in dangerous conditions, and risked his life traveling back and forth on a bicycle getting medical supplies, contraband money, anthracite, and food in freezing temperatures to help the destitute and downtrodden in that city that were under Japanese occupation. He slept in the homes of these villagers, ate with them, prayed with them, laughed and cried with them. Their sorrows became his sorrows. When they went hungry, he went hungry. He was held at gunpoint by the Japanese numerous times, he was shot at, and he was detained at checkpoints and robbed by bandits; yet he still continued helping the poor of Zaoqiang regardless of the risk involved. When he was exiled from Zaoqiang by the Japanese, who had robbed him and the other missionaries of their belongings, destroyed their mission compound, and threatened to kill them if they stayed, he returned to Tianjin. He referred to the Chinese people as "my people" and declared to his wife, Florence, that he couldn't leave them when they needed him the most. That is why he stayed in China and ended up in the internment camp. I would think these parts of his story would mean the most, and I really hope it's widely known.
The "unorthodox style" of running with head tilted back is exactly what CPR procedures call for, to minimize windpipe obstructions and maximize air flow. Very smart.
Appreciation to Tian Jin TV for this excellent presentation. Eric Liddell unselfishly served man & Faith; he ran life well. "Pure detachment and selfless service, these should be the sole motives of every true believer." - Shoghi Effendi, Baha'i Faith
Thanks for remembering him and the legacy he brought to humanity. As a Chinese myself, I'm rediscovering all the legacy that foreign missionaries have left to the land of China. I really hope more Chinese would recognize our huge spiritual heritage coming down to us from those forerunners of faith and we each have a responsibility to guard our spiritual inheritance and not letting the modern pursuit of materialism and so much more steal our true inheritance.
Did you feel like this documentary was lacking though? Eric Liddell did a lot more incredible things than what is mentioned in this documentary. They seemed to put a lot of emphasis on his athletics, but I'm surprised they didn't mention anything about Eric's years serving the poor peasant population of Zaoqiang (from 1937 - 1941). He literally saved lives in dangerous conditions, and risked his life traveling back and forth on a bicycle getting medical supplies, contraband money, anthracite, and food in freezing temperatures to help the destitute and downtrodden in that city that were under Japanese occupation. He slept in the homes of these villagers, ate with them, prayed with them, laughed and cried with them. Their sorrows became his sorrows. When they went hungry, he went hungry. He was held at gunpoint by the Japanese numerous times, he was shot at, and he was detained at checkpoints and robbed by bandits; yet he still continued helping the poor of Zaoqiang regardless of the risk involved. When he was exiled from Zaoqiang by the Japanese, who had robbed him and the other missionaries of their belongings, destroyed their mission compound, and threatened to kill them if they stayed, he returned to Tianjin. He referred to the people of China as "my people" and declared to his wife, Florence, that he couldn't leave when they needed him the most. That is why he stayed in China and ended up in the internment camp. I would think these parts of his story would mean the most, and I really hope it's widely known.
