Can you imagine what it would be like to have a strong, very specific calling, a mission only you can accomplish? I think about that every time I watch "Amazing Grace." What must it have been like to be William Wilberforce? He knew, deep in his soul, that his calling was to abolish the slave trade. I bet he felt the weight of his calling every day of his life after his conversion. And although he had fellow warriors at his side whose work was vital, he was the one at the forefront, the one who alone had the authority to truly accomplish that mission. If that's not an anointing, I don't know what is.

I read a little bit about his life recently. He had a pretty rough childhood. He was a sickly child and his father died when he was young. His mother sent him away to live with his aunt and uncle who were major spiritual mentors in his life along with the Christian school they sent him to. However, his mother and grandfather took issue with the fact that they weren't a part of the Church of England, so they brought him home and put him in a different school which was a hard adjustment for him.

Wilberforce was pretty wild in college, choosing to gamble and go to the theatre instead of studying. He was elected to the House of Commons at the age of 21, while still a student, but refused to commit to a particular party. He chose, instead, to vote as his conscience dictated. Sometime after receiving his Master's degree, he found God, or God found him. After that, well, things looked different to him. He gave up some of his previous habits and committed himself to the work of God. Evangelical enthusiasm was not so popular at the time and many of his peers began to view him with mistrust, sure he was going to attempt to overthrow the government.

As you can imagine, he struggled with whether to remain in public office. He wanted to serve God, and I think he was ready to give up everything to follow Him. The funny thing is, the best way for him to serve God was to remain in public office and, thankfully, his friends helped him see that. In 1786 he received a letter from another member of Parliament who suggested he bring forward the abolition of the slave trade in Parliament. Wilberforce, a humble man, did not believe himself equal to the task but his conscience would not allow him to turn it down.

Wilberforce's call became clear to him around this time. In 1787 he wrote in a journal, "God Almighty has set before me two great objects, the suppression of the Slave Trade and the Reformation of Manners [moral values]." Can you imagine having so clear an objective for your life? But it wasn't a simple thing and I'm sure he struggled every day and questioned his calling regularly. It took 20 years, 20 years of struggling and fighting, of knowing his place in this world and being unable to achieve it. How many times did he rail at God? How many times did he question his entire life? How many times did he tell God to choose someone else? Honestly, I don't know if I'd have the strength to fight for a cause for 20 years without any tangible progress.

The thing is, no one else could have done what Wilberforce did. God place him in a specific time and place to accomplish something amazing. Because he refused to commit himself to one party, he was able to reach out to both sides. He was humble and personable, gently urging people toward God without being confrontational. He did not attempt to back people into a corner and that kind of warmth and respect placed him in a unique position. People were more willing to listen to someone who wasn't going to stick a finger in their faces. I truly believe no one else would have been able to be used by God in this specific way. While many helped him and paved the way, Wilberforce was the one who had to lead the political fight.

After the abolition of the slave trade, focus shifted to abolishing slavery altogether. Wilberforce's health continued to fail and he resigned his seat in Parliament in 1825, but the gears were already in motion. Because of the attention given to abolition by this time, more abolitionists were rising up to run for Parliament and the people were supporting them. In April 1833, Wilberforce made his final anti-slavery speech at a public meeting. The next month, a bill was brought forth for the abolition of the slave trade. On July 26, Wilberforce heard that the government was making concessions that guaranteed the passage of the bill. Honestly, I think that's what kept him alive up to that point- the knowledge that his work was not yet done until the slave trade was abolished in the British empire. He had written, "So enormous, so dreadful, so irremediable did the trade's wickedness appear that my own mind was completely made up for abolition. Let the consequences be what they would: I from this time determined that I would never rest until I had effected its abolition."

William Wilberforce died on July 29, 1833, three days after hearing that the abolition bill was guaranteed. Having won his fight, he was able to finally rest. I doubt he ever knew how many Africans were freed because of his struggle: 800,000.

William Wilberforce introduced some great legislation in his lifetime and supported a number of worthy causes, but none consumed his life so much as the abolition of slavery. God called him to that fight and he answered. I wonder how many present-day Wilberforces we have in our midst- people who know their calling and are fighting for each inch of progress. May God bless and strengthen them for the battle that awaits them.

“If to be feelingly alive to the sufferings of my fellow-creatures is to be a fanatic, I am one of the most incurable fanatics ever permitted to be at large." ~ William Wilberforce


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Wilberforce
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ch/131christians/activists/wilberforce.html
http://www.brycchancarey.com/abolition/wilberforce.htm

There are many things I love about Christmas- carols, baked goods, time with family and friends, but most of all being able to celebrate the birth of my Saviour. It's so different from any other holy day. It doesn't suddenly make the world all better or solve every problem, but it reminds me (and hopefully others) of what's important.

This Christmas carol does a particularly good job of that and is one of my favorites. It was written 144 years ago and is as relevant today as it was then. When it was first written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, there were two other stanzas which were later ommitted because they included specific references to the Civil War. In 1872, the remaining five stanzas were slightly rearranged by John Baptiste Calkin who also added the music. Below is the poem in its five-stanza carol version. The fourth verse is a definite favorite of mine.

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

I thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bowed my head:
"There is no peace on earth," I said,
"For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men."

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men."

Till, ringing singing, on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,
Of peace on earth, good will to men!

If you would like to read more about this poem/song or its original version, I suggest you try this link: http://www.whatsaiththescripture.com/Fellowship/Edit_I.Heard.the.Bells.html

Merry Christmas!