What Keeps You Going? Reflections on “Eddie the Eagle”—A Film for Life

Last updated on: January 4, 2017 at 10:49 am by Paul Louis Metzger

What Keeps You Going? Reflections on “Eddie the Eagle”—A Film for Life 2017-01-04T10:49:47-08:00 Paul Louis Metzger

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Photo Credit: Max Froumentin

***Warning Possible Spoilers Ahead for the Movie Eddy the Eagle***

There are so many things that can make one want to give up or just try to get by. Some will even succeed without ever really trying or giving it their best because of a fear of failure. But then there are those who will overcome huge obstacles and disappointments and give it their all; even if they don’t win gold at the Olympics, they triumph because they leave everything they’ve got on the mountain. So it is with the movie Eddie the Eagle, which is inspired by the story of English ski jumper and Olympian Eddie Edwards.

Starring Taron Egerton as “Eddie” and Hugh Jackman as his coach “Bronson Peary,” the film provides an inspirational tale of a young man whom most people discounted and avoided, but who would not give up. In fact, proving the naysayers, cynics and mockers wrong motivated Eddie to push through various imposing physical and existential challenges to compete as a ski jumper for Great Britain in the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Canada.

From the movie portrayal, Eddie never aimed to be the best at the sport, but simply to compete in the Olympics. Ski jumping provided him that opportunity, as Britain did not have any Olympian ski jumpers at the time. Finally able to reach the minimum jump length arbitrarily set by the British Olympic Committee (to try and keep him from performing), Eddie got his chance to represent his country. He did not disappoint, as he became a fan favorite.

So many people are suckers for the underdog, especially one with an indomitable spirit whose love for the game is awe-inspiring, right? Or maybe such fans are not suckers. Perhaps they can see right through the insurmountable egos, pretense, and love of fame (and everything else that goes with it) that surround athletics today rather than the love of the sport. Purists are hard to come by; perhaps such fans are searching for a golden heart and are thrilled when they find it in the Games. Perhaps inspiring figures like Eddie Edwards give them hope that they, too, should keep competing in the game of life—just for the love of it.

The preceding reflection brings us to the question in the title of this post: “What keeps you going?” The movie quotes the founder of the modern Olympic games, Pierre de Coubertin: “The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not winning but taking part; the essential thing in life is not conquering but fighting well.” The film and statement are a far cry from what often comes across as the focus of sports today—looking good, winning at all cost (“winning is everything”), no matter how much it costs our humanity. After all, many who pay to watch or those who sponsor want to be associated with winners, not losers.

Does success keep you going? The fear of failure? The love of the game of life? As a Christian, I am struck by the Bible’s own “Eddie the Eagle,” the Apostle Paul, whose overwhelming suffering could have easily led him to give up. But he pressed on to the end. Though some would consider him a loser in that he was sawn in two or decapitated under the Roman Emperor Nero, Paul writes from his Roman prison cell not long before his ‘demise’: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7-8; ESV). Even when facing death from a Roman prison cell, Paul’s spirit soared, just like Eddie Edwards soared. No one could imprison their hope and longing and love for the game of life. They fought well to the end.

Regardless of your faith commitments and your life circumstances, what keeps you going? We need more Eddie Edwards today—those who will not allow the seemingly self-fulfilling prophecies of this or that court of opinion from keeping them down. Such heroic individuals lift our spirits. Let your spirit soar, and lift us up with you.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

February 22, 2016

Who Trumped God? Reflections on the Debate between Donald Trump and Pope Francis

Next Post

February 26, 2016 Black History Month Is Almost Over. Now We Can Return to White History Year

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Uncategorized

Select a Month June 2025 April 2025 March 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz