
Tuesday, October 14, 2003
Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God.
William Lloyd Garrison was the greatest abolitionist this country has ever known. He was a
publisher of a newspaper called the Liberator, an anti-slavery publication. Garrison was an
angry man, angry with indignation caused by the unbelievably inhumane treatment many of the
slaves experienced. He hated slavery with everything that was in him. One day one of his best
friends, Samuel May, tried to calm him down. He said to Garrison, "Oh, my friend, try to
moderate your indignation and keep more cool. Why, you are all on fire." Garrison replied,
"Brother May, I have need to be all on fire, for I have mountains of ice around me to melt." Well,
the only way any of us can melt mountains of ice is to be on fire.
The only way Christ can use any of us is when we are driven by a great passion, when we feel
or hear his voice within our heart showing us a great cause that needs to be championed.
Nothing is accomplished in this world by people who have no passion. That's one reason we
need God in our hearts as well as on our lips.
(Psalm 31.5
NRSV)
In Revelation the angel said, "I see by your works that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that
you were hot or cold, but because you are lukewarm I will spew you out of my mouth." Why so
harsh? It is because change in this world is only made by people who are on fire.
God of passion, help me to be passionate about sharing your love. Amen.