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----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Spark William Wilberforce lived in the early 1800s in England. He brought a bill before parliament many times over the course of 15 years, and it was defeated each time. He died just after it passed, having given his life over to the abolition of the slave trade. He's buried in Westminster Abbey next to William Pitt, and his epitaph reads: "In an age and country fertile in great and good men, he was among the foremost of those who fixed the character of their times." I just watched a film about his journey, and am left with two questions. First, how will I ever discover all of the great people when there are so many, and second, what causes these great people to be so resolute and unable to give up? Wilberforce would tell you the spark comes from God. He would have been a preacher if he hadn't felt he had to do something about the slave issue. For most people, this question would end there with "well, wherever it comes from..." and then we would move on to talking about how grateful we are it exists at all. Because we don't really know where it comes from. All we know for sure is that there are people who are propelled forward into the fight for what they believe is right and honorable. And well, wherever it comes from, thank goodness it exists at all. 4:07 p.m. - 2007-11-24 |
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