How would you like to be forever remembered as "comically inept" at your profession?
These words are often used to describe Eddie "The Eagle" Edwards and his ski jumping at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary. Edwards' performance ranks among the worst in Olympic history; yet he remains one of the most beloved athletes ever. Though his religion (if any) is not publicly known, reflecting on The Eagle's story provides a number of spiritual insights.
Edwards was actually an accomplished downhill skier who barely missed qualifying for Great Britain's Olympic team in 1984. He set his sights on Calgary, but could not raise enough funds to continue training for downhill. Determined to compete in the Olympics, Edwards decided to try his hand at ski jumping. Not only was it less expensive, but with Great Britain having no competitors in the event it would be easier for him to qualify.
The Olympics had never seen the likes of him. Entirely self-funded, Edwards had to train and compete with borrowed equipment; he needed six pairs of socks to make his second-hand boots fit, and a helmet with a string for a chin strap once fell off during a practice jump. He took room and board in a mental hospital because he couldn't afford housing. Edwards was overweight by ski jumping standards, and his near-sightedness forced him to wear thick glasses beneath his goggles--which fogged up so much that when he jumped he couldn't see where he was going anyway.
His style was unintentionally eccentric: flapping his arms as he dropped like a rock, falling well short of an Olympic caliber landing. Edwards' awkward jumps were greeted with laughter from spectators, whom he greeted in turn with endearing smiles and waves. Crowds began chanting his name and greeting each new flailing attempt with loud and affectionate cheers. He finished last in all of his events, and was jokingly nicknamed "The Eagle."
Not everyone found him amusing or endearing. Two years after his performance the International Olympic Committee--believing he had made a mockery of the games--adopted a rule requiring athletes to rank either in the top 50 or top third in international competition in order to qualify (known as the "Eddie Edwards rule"). Olympic officials in Great Britain still consider him an embarrassment.
Yet the rest of the world fell in love with The Eagle. He was a man with very little talent for his event--but he took the little he had and gave it his all. On a stage where only beautifully polished athletes normally appear, room was made for this rough, incompetent ski jumper with other skills to exhibit: determination, ingenuity, and a joyful spirit that prevailed in the midst of failuire.
Eddie Edwards stood out at Calgary the same way the poor widow leaving her small but total self-offering stood out at the temple; he taught us that it is not how much we have to offer that matters, but how we offer what we have. Like the children shunned by the discipes but beckoned by Jesus, he showed us that there can be different criteria for evaluating someone than prevailing institutional ideas.
And who among us has never been in his cavernous, borrowed ski boots? Truly living up to God's ways is as difficult for us as was ski jumping for Eddie Edwards: our vision is often blurred, we become overweight with worry, anxiety and other heavy burdens, we can fall well short of where God wants us to be. And we can hear the laughter or scorn of those who find our failures amusing.
But can we respond to these humbling experiences like Eddie Edwards--with a smile and the hopeful determination to get back to the top of the hill and try again?
Eddie "The Eagle" Edwards is perhaps the sporting world's most vivid example that the last shall be first. Never before have so many accolades been bestowed upon a last place Olympic competitor:
*He was referenced by the IOC president during the closing ceremonies of the Calgary Games--the first Olympic athlete to be mentioned in those ceremonies.
*In 2006 Time magazine included his performance in its list of the 25 most memorable moments in Winter Olympic history.
*In 2008 he participated in ceremonies celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Calgary Olympics.
*He recently carried the Olympic torch for part of its relay to Vancouver.
Eddie "The Eagle" Edwards was not trying to be funny--he was just doing his best with what he had. By doing that with a positive outlook he became a star. So will we when we take whatever God has given us and give him our best effort in return.
He will raise us up on eagle's wings.
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