Amazing Grace

"When people ask of great men, they think of men like Napoleon- men of violence. Rarely do they think of peaceful men. But contrast the reception they will receive when they return home from their battles. Napoleon will arrive in pomp and in power, a man who's achieved the very summit of early ambition. And yet his dreams will be haunted by the oppressions of war. William Wilberforce, however, will return to his family, lay his head on his pillow and remember; the slave trade is no more." 

- Lord Charles Fox

Have you seen the movie Amazing Grace? It's about a man named William Wilberforce and his role in abolishing the slave trade.

I watched it about 2 weeks ago on my day off because I wanted to watch something that would inspire me to live a radical life. It was a great movie and after watching it I kept thinking about William's life and how he witnessed lives being killed and inhumanity taking place through the slave trade and how that burden was so strong that he lived each day and did whatever he could to stop the slave trade. 

He was haunted with images, he couldnt eat, and his health was deteriorating because he was so consumed with the abolition of slavery, so he did whatever he could to pass the Slavery Abolition Act. 

So, after watching this movie I wondered to myself...

What makes a person so burdened that their whole life revolves around a certain issue. Is is just their experiences? Is it their specific character? And many people have burdens that last for a little while and with very little accomplished in living out their convictions. What makes a conviction consume one to the point of living their lives out each and everyday for that specific burden with regards to nothing else?

For myself...this is something that I have been pondering on these past few weeks and as I live in the world, but strive not to be of the world... I have to keep myself in check each day by asking myself if I am living a life of boldness and fearlessness with the courage to stop at nothing to make the name of Christ known...

William Wilberforce...dang yo... What a great man!