Pursuing Right Passions
I did a really unusual thing last evening. I watched a DVD all by myself. Everyone else had gone their separate ways, and I found myself thinking, "Hmm...I think I will watch 'Amazing Grace'". I have had the DVD for so long, but never took the opportunity to watch it. However, not too long ago, I picked up a book written about the life of William Wilberforce and am in the middle of reading it. Okay...I will admit that I love, love, love a great story about ordinary people who become heroes through acts of passionate and selfless service toward others. Much of the time, those stories and movie scripts are written about fictitious characters submerged in a plot that borders on unbelievable...but I still love it. I guess because even fiction has a way of testifying about the hopes and dreams of the writer. It's as if the writer is saying, "Maybe if I write this, it might actually become a reality!" With that said, you might well imagine how much more I love that kind of a story when it is based on actual accounts of a REAL person's life.
The work that Wilberforce did to bring about the abolition of slavery in the most powerful part of the world at that time, Great Britain, was nothing short of a miracle. And his was a miracle that required great perseverance in both practice and passion. The beauty of this story is two-fold for me. One...the abolition of slavery as it was known at that time in history; and two...the community of comrades that came alongside Wilberforce to stay the tough course and be a part of that miracle. As I watched the movie and remembered parts from the book I am reading, I was deeply moved. So much so, that when I said prayers with my son later that evening, I thanked God for William Wilberforce! And I meant it. I literally blubbered through the prayer.
Where would we be without the commitment and passion of people like Wilberforce? People who clearly count the cost and plow on ahead because they know their task is what God desires. People who count the cost and know it might cost them their lives, but that is not even a consideration for them, because they know their task is what God desires. I prayed that we as a family would become people like that.
In doing some more research, I was reminded that forms of slavery are still very active today. "Reminded"...what a tragic word to use in this context. It tells me that I already knew this fact, but had casually tossed it aside somewhere along the way toward keeping my life comfortable and convenient. How many other areas of injustice and oppression have I conveniently ignored because they don't directly affect me...or...someone else can handle that?
I am not suggesting that we need to be actively involved in EVERYTHING, but what I am suggesting is that we need to be actively involved in PRAYING about what God would have us pursue...and pursue with passion. I think we as a nation have lost our passion for pursuing and doing what is right. The main thing we seem passionate about is pursuing and doing what WE want to do...for OUR pleasure, comfort, and convenience. I am finishing the book of Judges in the Bible, and what a culturally relevant and timely book it is! People pursuing their personal, selfish passions seems to be its recurring theme. I wish I could say the book of Judges ends with "and they all lived happily ever after", but it doesn't. The last line is, "In those days Israel had no king; and everyone did as he saw fit." Believe me, that is NOT a good thing!
Wow, this particular blog has not been laced with 'warm fuzzies' at all. I guess sometimes I just get a glimpse of myself and human nature that makes me cringe...big time. But it also makes me fall in love with God more and more, knowing that nothing we do (the good, the bad, and the ugly) takes Him by surprise. My 'ugliness' points out His beauty all the more. I need Him desperately. I thank Him that He loves me desperately. I bow before Him humbled, amazed, and in awe. May He help us all to pursue His purposes with passion, rather than our own. Beloved, let us LOVE one another.
Thanks for reading,
Libby
The work that Wilberforce did to bring about the abolition of slavery in the most powerful part of the world at that time, Great Britain, was nothing short of a miracle. And his was a miracle that required great perseverance in both practice and passion. The beauty of this story is two-fold for me. One...the abolition of slavery as it was known at that time in history; and two...the community of comrades that came alongside Wilberforce to stay the tough course and be a part of that miracle. As I watched the movie and remembered parts from the book I am reading, I was deeply moved. So much so, that when I said prayers with my son later that evening, I thanked God for William Wilberforce! And I meant it. I literally blubbered through the prayer.
Where would we be without the commitment and passion of people like Wilberforce? People who clearly count the cost and plow on ahead because they know their task is what God desires. People who count the cost and know it might cost them their lives, but that is not even a consideration for them, because they know their task is what God desires. I prayed that we as a family would become people like that.
In doing some more research, I was reminded that forms of slavery are still very active today. "Reminded"...what a tragic word to use in this context. It tells me that I already knew this fact, but had casually tossed it aside somewhere along the way toward keeping my life comfortable and convenient. How many other areas of injustice and oppression have I conveniently ignored because they don't directly affect me...or...someone else can handle that?
I am not suggesting that we need to be actively involved in EVERYTHING, but what I am suggesting is that we need to be actively involved in PRAYING about what God would have us pursue...and pursue with passion. I think we as a nation have lost our passion for pursuing and doing what is right. The main thing we seem passionate about is pursuing and doing what WE want to do...for OUR pleasure, comfort, and convenience. I am finishing the book of Judges in the Bible, and what a culturally relevant and timely book it is! People pursuing their personal, selfish passions seems to be its recurring theme. I wish I could say the book of Judges ends with "and they all lived happily ever after", but it doesn't. The last line is, "In those days Israel had no king; and everyone did as he saw fit." Believe me, that is NOT a good thing!
Wow, this particular blog has not been laced with 'warm fuzzies' at all. I guess sometimes I just get a glimpse of myself and human nature that makes me cringe...big time. But it also makes me fall in love with God more and more, knowing that nothing we do (the good, the bad, and the ugly) takes Him by surprise. My 'ugliness' points out His beauty all the more. I need Him desperately. I thank Him that He loves me desperately. I bow before Him humbled, amazed, and in awe. May He help us all to pursue His purposes with passion, rather than our own. Beloved, let us LOVE one another.
Thanks for reading,
Libby
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