Harold Abrahams And Eric Liddell example essay topic

507 words
Harold Abrahams and Eric Liddell both ran, but for different reasons, both ran on the same team, but yet competed against each other, and each had a completely different goal in his mind while he ran. Harold Abrahams was a very fast runner who wanted more than anything to win, win, win! However, his reason for wishing to win was because he was a Jew. The fact that he was a Jew made him feel that he was ill-treated, and if he ever wanted to be somebody, he would have to make a name for himself. He felt it would be the only way to achieve respect of others. He once said after losing a race, "I run to win; If I can't win, I won't run".

This shows his beliefs and philosophy for running as simply as it could. If he couldn't be the greatest, he wanted nothing to do with the sport. Because he felt this so strongly, he even went to the extreme of hiring a personal trainer. He hired a man named Sam Mussembini. The runners were not supposed to hire professionals, but because winning meant everything to him, he felt he had no choice if he was ever to beat Eric Liddell, who had previously beaten him. Eric Liddell was a missionary to China from Scotland.

He was fast and knew why, too. He said, .".. But He (God) also made me fast. When I run, I can feel his pleasure". He knew that he was fast only because of God and his love for him.

He also knew that he could glorify God through his running. In fact, he felt that every time he ran, he pleased God. Not only did he run for God, he also ran for the ministry. After some of his meets, he would preach a sermon or an evangelistic message to the audience. He used his talent to glorify and further the gospel of Jesus.

When Eric Liddell won, he had joy. Not the joy that comes through a victory, but the joy of God was with him. This joy came from the knowledge that God was well pleased with Eric. However, the reactions of Abrahams were completely the opposite. When he lost, he would pout and throw a pity party. When he would win though, he would gloat, brag, and then get drunk from his lack of joy.

Abrahams could not find joy even in winning, because he did not have God. God had given Liddell something far more than victory. He had given him the joy of the Lord. Harold Abrahams and Eric Liddell both went on to win, but only one of them truly WON. Abrahams, however, did not accept this gift and therefore, never was happy with his winnings. Winning is not everything, especially when it comes to eternity.