During yesterdays practice, I told the team the story of William Wilberforce. None of the team of 19 had ever heard of him. This, in itself, is tragic.
William was just like you and me, I suppose. He grew up and took things for granted. Went away to college and partied too much. He lost his faith, forgot his name, and turned his back on his mentors, one of whom was none other than John Newton. Yes, John the author of Amazing Grace.
At 21 one of his friends talked him into running for Parliament and on a lark, he ran. And, he won. Five years later he would “wake up,” due to the influence of one of his friends who had become his builder. He would go from being a disengaged member of Parliament to a master of his craft. He would study for 9-10 hours a day. To re-solve the anguish he felt for wasting so much of his life, he re-solved to meet with his old mentor, John Newton and seek his council. Newton talked him out of resigning his post and challenged him so serve God with his public life. And so he did.
Wilberforce would catch a vision for his work and on October 28, 1787, he would capture it in his diary. IF this doesn’t serve as a great example of a compelling (Overarching vision- The “O” in OPUS)than I don’t know what might. Here it is. Here’s what he wrote…
“God Almighty has set before me two great objects, the suppression of the Slave Trade and the Reformation of Manners.”
He would chase his overarching vision for the rest of his life, literally. He would push for the abolition of slavery for 46 years. He would endure political threats and death threats on countless occasions. He resolved to fight. In fact, the more he studied the atrocities, the more re-solved he became. Three days before his death, July 26, 1833, slavery was abolished in the British colonies.
Yesterday, as we wound down our 19th practice together, a few folks commented that they wanted to study more great lives and invest less time reading the latest People magazine. Re-solve to make that a “done so,” please. Re-solve to become a W.I.P. like Gurue and not only author your worldview, identity, and principles but own them, align them, and live them.
William woke up and changed the British islands. Who knows what an awake version of Y.O.U. might do.
Who knows…
BUILT TO LEAD 
Chet,
I never get tired of hearing this story! God put us on this earth for a purpose and it’s up to each of us to passionately pursue that purpose!
Not an easy job but the reward of a truly meaningful life is well worth the effort.
I have been experiencing acute pain in my TRX workouts! I need to experience that same kind of effort in my own personal journey as a Builder. This blog has inspired me to do just that!!
Keep planking little man!
Pete