amazing grace

[Ken Gargett]

was at a funeral the other day, where they played 'amazing grace'. the bloke next to me asked me what i knew about it - yes, bit optimistic asking me anything about religion. i knew it had been written by a slaver. anyway, that got me interested and i did some research. thought it might be of interest to some here.

originally called (or apparently still properly called) "Faith's Review and Expectation," ‘amazing grace’ was apparently written by a chap called john newton who was a slaver who became a poet and a clergyman.

he has been described as the most profane man ever to crew on a ship. bit of a big call, i would have thought. he was known for endless insubordination. originally, he was a merchant sailor but then captured and pressed into navy service but was so disrespectful of authority and oblivious to all punishments, including regular flogging, that he was traded or given to a slaving boat, to work on it. he was so hated on the slaver (how bad must this bloke have been?) that they gave him to an african slave dealer who was called amos clowe, as a slave. he gave newton to his african ‘princess’ wife who had him act as a slave to her other slaves. it was quite some time, 4-5 years, before he was rescued and even then he continued working as a slaver himself. even after he stopped and discovered religion, he “invested” in slavers for many years.

then, while slaving, he was on a vessel that got hit by a massive storm which swept off one sailor standing next to newton. gave up the usual, ‘if you save me i’ll never....’, crap. and was saved. and presumably assumed that his imaginary creation had done this.

while the boat was being repaired, he wrote ‘amazing grace’. apparently prior to that, he was only known for composing obscene ditties about his captain and inventing new words designed to be each more disgusting than the last.

apparently, the conversion was slow to take as he remained a slaver for the next 5-6 years before eventually joining the church.

he then became a strong abolitionist and fought hard with wilberforce. lived to 82 dying just after the bill to abolish slavery was passed.

[wea1959]

A funeral is quite the appropriate place for the living to reflect on grace and it's power to transform our lives. Although it may have taken time for it to transform John Newton's life, only grace (unmerited favor) can do that. Facing mortality, whether at a funeral or bobbing like a cork on an angry sea, gives us each the opportunity to reflect on our humanity. Nice Easter post also.

[ogus]

Anyone can be saved

[bradbrennan]

Had know idea where that song came from, I always enjoy it! Thanks for sharing, Ken!

[rbelcastro]

There is an excellent move, by the same name, that details the story. I highly recommend it.

There is also the movie Amistad, with Morgan Freeman that is excellent. Highly nominated if I recall.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118607/

[RickHendeson]

Theres a movie by the same name that's also decent

[Borgy]

Great post we never stop learning about ourselves or what we think about when you look at the plight of others we need to take the time to look.