A "Shrimp's" Giant Vision
Key Bible Verse: Our confident expectation … will not disappoint us (Romans 5:4-5). Bonus Reading: Romans 15:18-22
William Wilberforce, elected at age 21 to the 18th century House of Commons, was so short his detractors called him a shrimp. But his vision was huge.
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He saw the problem, one "invisible" to most. The relatively few slaves in England were mostly domestic servants. Wilberforce never peered into the hold of a slave ship or observed the brutality of plantation gang slavery. But he envisioned the slaves' suffering and terror.
He saw the problem, one "invisible" to most. The relatively few slaves in England were mostly domestic servants. Wilberforce never peered into the hold of a slave ship or observed the brutality of plantation gang slavery. But he envisioned the slaves' suffering and terror. •He saw the possibility. Some don't believe things can ever change. Wilberforce believed that ending the slave trade and emancipating slaves was attainable. He persevered in Parliament for 45 years, confident of God's support as he opposed human oppression.
He saw the possibility. Some don't believe things can ever change. Wilberforce believed that ending the slave trade and emancipating slaves was attainable. He persevered in Parliament for 45 years, confident of God's support as he opposed human oppression. •He worked to make his vision reality. Wilberforce studied, wrote, petitioned, and enlisted others for research and fact-finding expeditions. He lobbied the prime minister to investigate the slave trade. He spent weeks rigorously preparing for debates.
He worked to make his vision reality. Wilberforce studied, wrote, petitioned, and enlisted others for research and fact-finding expeditions. He lobbied the prime minister to investigate the slave trade. He spent weeks rigorously preparing for debates. In 1807 the slave trade was abolished in the English empire. Slavery itself was abolished in 1833-hours before Wilberforce's death, and 30 years before Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation.
—David Vaughan in Statesman and Saint
My Response: What vision captures my imagination?
Thought to Apply: Make no little plans. They have no magic to stir men's blood and probably themselves will not be realized.
—Daniel Burnham (architect, 19th century)
Adapted from: Statesman and Saint (Cumberland, 2002) by permission
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