History in the Making

I'm attracted to stories of people who are world-changers -- whether the change they wring is small or large, the point is they acted as thermostats, not just thermometers.

Last night Cathy & I watched Amazing Grace. It is the story of how William Wilberforce refused to give up and was responsible for abolishing the slave trade in England.

He changed his world, and by doing so changed mine! And it came to me:

If I'm not making history
I'm simply becoming a part of it

It made me think of one of the songs that still makes me cry

History Maker
Written by Martin Smith ©1996 Curious? Music UK

Is it true today that when people pray
Cloudless skies will break
Kings and queens will shake
Yes it's true and I believe it
I'm living for you

Is it true today that when people pray
We'll see dead men rise
And the blind set free
Yes it's true and I believe it
I'm living for you

I'm gonna be a history maker in this land
I'm gonna be a speaker of truth to all mankind
I'm gonna stand, I'm gonna run
Into your arms, into your arms again
Into your arms, into your arms again

Well it's true today that when people stand
With the fire of God, and the truth in hand
We'll see miracles, we'll see angels sing
We'll see broken hearts making history
Yes it's true and I believe it
We're living for you

Before William Wilberforce there was another world-changer with the same name -- you probably know this quote from William Wallace: "Every man dies. Not every man really lives."

William has long been a popular name. It comes from a combination of two words: will (as in being resolved) and helm (as in helmet).

My father's oldest brother's name was Christian Wilhelm. It is a name handed down to the oldest son of the oldest son -- so it is also the name of my paternal grandfather, and his father before that and as far back as I know my family's history.

Keith is my first name and I get that from my maternal grandfather's surname -- it is Scottish in origin and has multiple meanings and I like that for a lot of reasons. But my middle name comes from my paternal grandfather's middle name.

William is my middle name. I like that. It is at the center of my name -- at the core of who I am.

I want to make history
Not just become a part of it.

~ K. William Seckel