Louis Zamperini, the former American Olympic athlete carried an extraordinary capacity to inspire people to live better lives and to get through difficult times. His own autobiography “Devil at my heals” inspired the bestselling “Unbroken” book by Laura Hillenbrand. This has been now made into a film, released at the end of last year. So what made his life so inspiring? Three things stand out:

His perseverance

Firstly, his World War Two experience of crash-landing into the sea and surviving 47 days adrift in a raft. Then only to run into the Japanese and become a prisoner of war. He suffered regular beatings, torture and slave labour but he never gave up.

God’s intervention

Secondly, after his marriage almost broke down Louis Zamperini went to a Billy Graham crusade and gave His life to Christ. This was a completely transforming experience. He instantly forgave his Japanese torturers and even returned to Japan to forgive them personally and to share the Gospel.

A powerful new perspective

Thirdly, Louis Zamperini really applied the Pauline perspective that “all things work together for good” and the maxim “a minute of pain is worth a lifetime of glory“. So he saw all of life through this lens, even the most painful parts, which gave him a positive perspective on all of life and an ability to endure. This perspective and his other desire to constantly help others, he attributed to his long life (he lived to 97) and lack of illness.

He also had an amazing ability to communicate this perspective in real life and in his books. So I thoroughly recommend his books.