I am off to the the Wind City, Chicago. Took the train down, what a relaxing way to travel, no lines at the station, no fighting with traffic, having time to read, sleep, and ponder life as we went along. One of the things I did was watch again the movie Amazing Grace. It is the story of William Wilberforce, an Englishman in the House of Lords who work to abolish the English slave trade.
Two things that struck me as I watched. First, was the fact that Wilberforce did not “find God” but rather that God found him. Relating to a sermon by Erwin McManus (listened to that on the train ride down also), God was putting His finger prints on Wilberforce. God was stirring a passion in his soul so strong he could not escape it. William then spent the next 10-11 years giving voice to the voiceless, speaking for the slaves who had no voice. He was in fact putting his finger prints all over them. Second, Wilberforce stood firm against astronomical odds. He leaned into fears, stood in the center of God’s will and fought for what he knew to be right.
Has God been stirring a passion in you? Have you taken the time to listen to God to see how he is speaking to you? Have you asked God to stir something within you? Are you willing to allow God to put His fingerprints all over you and then in turn be God’s hands and feet by putting your fingerprints all over someone else? Are you willing to engage the world, to make one small part better so that the whole can become a little better? It could be dangerous, it will be exciting. You might even call it barbaric!
I know that God is stirring something in my, but I can’t put my finger on it quite yet. I know the components, love, courage, community, and engagement. I know it has to do will to with being a barbarian. Stay tuned for more related to this…