William Wilberforce — as mentioned yesterday — was a bold, but peculiar man, who changed the world.

William Wilberforce was also featured in the movie Amazing Grace. It’s a powerful film that reveals the tension that Wilberforce faced in his personal and public life.

People who step forward or step “out of line” face that tension. 

– Teens who stand up against bullies are often threatened themselves.
– Entrepreneurs who market boldly are often ostracized by their competition.
– Excited parents are glared at when they cheer for their daughter or son at sporting events.
– Weather forecasters are often derided when their forecasts are mistaken.
– Fans who cheer too loudly at sporting events can be shouted down.

I’m fascinated by people.

As often as people seem to fall into common patterns, their preferences can be incredibly diverse.

Do we like diversity?  Is Paula Abdul right, and Opposites Attract? 

Weird?

The journal Evolutionary Psychology, asked 760 members of an online dating site if they would prefer someone like them or if they would like someone different than them. 85.7% of participants claim to want someone who has their opposite traits.

Then they were asked if they most wanted a partner that complemented them, or resembled them.

This weekend I finished the fifth of five of wonderful marriage celebrations in the last couple of months.

Ashley and Jesse Stinson got married
Nate and Manna Towler got married
Jonnie and Courtney Towler got married
Luke and Jessica Skelly got married, and,
Amy and I celebrated our 25th anniversary with a vow renewal ceremony.

Faithfulness

Yesterday, I reviewed Stu Weber’s book Tender Warrior in his book he challenges us as men to be finishers.  And to you my male readers — newly-married, or not — let’s honor the women in our lives by being “finishers.”

Today when asked to describe me in one word Jocelyn “Jozey” Wichterman described me as passionate. While I humbly smirked when I read it, she’s right, I am passionate.

Yesterday’s tragic death of Avenged Sevenfold’s drummer The Rev [James Owen Sullivan] drives my passion into a flame.

Chains

Several years ago while having lunch with Heather Crimmins she introduced me to Avenged Sevenfold. Over the years I realized that Avenged Sevenfold’s lyrics spoke to people; they touched wounded souls:

“Tormented young with no souls, haunting me
Pain in their lives all they know is misery
Take these chains away that are holding me down” [Eternal Rest]