I Once Was Lost

This semester's Spiritual Renewal Week, EMHS students focused on God's grace in using average people to accomplish His will in the world.  Each day, we watched a part of Walden Media's Amazing Grace, a documentary of William Wilberforce's fight to abolish Britain's slave trade.  Wilberforce's passion for this cause drove him to sacrifice complacency and peace of mind, to get his hands dirty in a corrupted political system.  His work inspired thousands of people to sign petitions and join him in acts of solidarity, like refusing to "take sugar in our tea."  he continues to challenge us today, as we contemplate the sacrifice it might take to examine the injustice in our lives and work to meet the needs around us.

Senior, and member of Chapel Planning Committee, Nathan Hershberger says that the film is "A really excellent movie," and that it "could inspire people to live a better life even in the face of adversity."  Says Junior Allen Bondurant Carter III, "I was mad because I didn't want to like it... and I did."  Walking through the halls last week, as I heard snatches of the hymn Amazing Grace, I hummed and sung: "how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch..."  Hopefully, those words will follow us into the rest of the school year.

Hannah Cranston