A miracle happened over the weekend in Australia. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison won what was called an unwinnable election. All the indications from the polls and the experts was that Scott Morrison was going to lose. Morrison is the leader of the Liberal Party (actually a center-right party). He was up against Bill Shorten, the leader of the Labor Party (the center-left party). So sure was Shorten of victory that he laid out detailed progressive policies on taxes and climate change. Morrison, on the other hand, has been Prime Minister for under a year. The Liberal Party had removed two sitting Prime Ministers in the last several years. Many people were tired of all the Liberal Party internal politics. In most cases, when one party keeps shooting itself in the foot, the other party wins.
So how did Scott Morrison win this unwinnable election? Morrison campaigned on more of a steady-as-you-go platform that did not overpromise. But Scott Morrison’s real key to victory was his authenticity. “ScoMo,” as he is affectionately called, grew up in a fairly ordinary middle-class background. His dad started off life as a policeman. Morrison is active in his church, a Pentecostal church he has been a part of for years. Australia is a pretty secular country, so being a person of faith is not always helpful politically. He is also a huge football fan of the Australian Rugby League team the Cronulla Sharks. So on the Sunday after it looked like he was going to be re-elected Prime Minister, he went to church and then went to a Cronulla football game as normal. He was mobbed by cheering crowds at the Cronulla football game. The fans knew he was one of them, a passionate Cronulla supporter.
Morrison’s message is aspirational. He says, “I believe in the promise of Australia.” He uses folksy slogans like, “If you have a go, you’ll get a go,” basically saying that if you take a chance, Australia will let you do pretty well. On the night of his victory, he said, “God bless Australia,” and that he felt Australia was the best country in the world to live in. Such language might be common place in the US, but it is not in Australia.
People could relate to this guy. He was one of them. He has been called the “daggy dad,” which in layman’s terms means your typical boring dad, without a whole lot of fashion sense. He is married with two young children.
We can learn a lot from Scott Morrison. The lessons are not so much about his party or his political philosophy. It is that people crave authenticity. Not everyone in Australia is a Pentecostal Christian or a Cronulla Sharks football fan. But people admire a man who is authentic. A family man, raising two children, with a message of hope.
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Who would argue that the abolition of the slave trade was not one of the most impactful events of the nineteenth century? British historian, G.M. Trevelyan said this was “one of the turning points in the history of the world.” William Wilberforce was the driving force behind this.
Who is William Wilberforce?
In his later years he was regarded as “the conscience of his nation,” but his early life did not give any indication that he would become a man so respected and revered. Born in 1759 in Northern England to wealthy parents, he went on to study at Cambridge University. He was never a serious student, but he was known to be witty, charming, and eloquent. With the charisma of a natural leader, Wilberforce was elected to Parliament at 21 — the youngest age you could be elected — along with William Pitt, who became Prime Minister just three years later.
The Turning Point
In 1785, Wilberforce had an “intense religious experience” while traveling, prompting him to consider leaving Parliament and going into the ministry. At this juncture, his life could have taken a very different course had his friend and mentor John Newton not intervened. This former captain of slave ships had his own religious conversion, becoming an Anglican minister and abolitionist — and went on to write the hymn “Amazing Grace.” Newton urged Wilberforce to continue his political path and to live out his faith in the place where he could have the most impact.
The Abolition
From that point forward, Wilberforce devoted his whole being to the abolition of the slave trade and of slavery itself. At this time, the slave trade was dominated by the British, and was entrenched in political and monetary interests. The abolition of the slave trade would be a difficult battle.
In 1789, Wilberforce introduced resolutions against the slave trade to parliament for the first time. They did not pass. For 18 years he continued to propose these bills, but again and again, they were defeated. Finally, in 1807 the tide began to turn. In speech after speech, members of Parliament spoke in favor of the abolition of the slave trade in the British Empire. Prime Minister William Grenville called the bill “a measure which will diffuse happiness among millions now in existence, and for which [Wilberforce’s] memory will be blessed by millions yet unborn.”
Three days before Wilberforce died in 1833, he learned that Parliament was passing a law that would free all slaves in the British Empire.
How One Man Lived Out His Beliefs
We can learn a lot from Wilberforce. Showing humility and empathy with those opposed to him, and by demonstrating an understanding of the financial impact of the abolition of the slave trade, he won people over. He appealed to their sense of morality and pressed on, asserting that the abolition of the slave trade was the right thing to do.
With his natural charisma and charm, it was said that “with all his talents he would probably have been Pitt’s successor as Prime Minister if he had preferred the party to mankind.” Instead, he believed strongly that pursuing the abolition of the slave trade and slavery was his purpose in life. This was how he was going to lead a life of significance. Consistent through this battle was the anchor in his life: his faith.
How to Make a Difference in Your Own Life
There are lessons we can learn from William Wilberforce for our own lives, as we seek a life of purpose and significance:
The anchors in our life should guide our actions. For Wilberforce, it was his strong faith.
Making a difference happens when we match our beliefs with our passions and our skills. Wilberforce matched his faith with the passion he had for abolition. He lived his vision out in Parliament, an arena he was particularly gifted in. He was one of the most skilled speakers of his day.
We all need a good mentor. Wilberforce had a great mentor in John Newton, who urged him to stay in Parliament and live out the anchor of his faith.
A strong support network can be the key to our vision becoming reality. Wilberforce had a support network who shared his vision. This group of friends, “the Clapham sect” were devout people who were influential in government and business.
The strength of Wilberforce’s faith and the passion he had for his vision of the abolition of the slave trade and slavery helped him overcome many obstacles. How can that translate to your own life?
Find out what you believe in, such that you believe in it to the depths of your soul, and live it out.
Discern what cause or vision your beliefs are calling you to.
Ensure that this cause or vision is in line with your skills and natural aptitudes.
Talk to a mentor to seek counsel and to friends who will support you along the way.
Be committed to your path and grounded in the anchor of your beliefs. There will inevitably be obstacles. Perseverance comes from the determination that what you are devoting your life to really matters.
Few of us may feel that we can have the impact that William Wilberforce did. Even he, at a younger age, had no idea what he was capable of, but we all want in some way to lead a life of significance. Our own impact may not be as well-known as that of Wilberforce, but the impact of many people leading lives of significance can add up to a world-changing difference.
To explore Beyond the Crucible resources, including our free Trials-to-Triumphs Self-Assessment, visit beyondthecrucible.com.
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Our beliefs form the very core of who we are. They are the essence of our true selves. Living and leading our life in harmony with our most deeply held beliefs is a major step toward leading a life of significance – a life that is not about us but about serving others and making a difference in the world.
As we pursue our vision and lead our lives, our deeply held beliefs help ensure that we are on course. They provide anchors for our lives. If we feel that we have led a life that betrays everything that we believe in, that is soul crushing. It is a place you do not want to be.
Where Beliefs Come From
What are these beliefs that can form anchors for our lives? They are typically a set of principles, a moral philosophy, if you will. They may be rooted in a major religion, such as Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, or Islam. They could also be based on a philosophical way of thought, such as the writings of Confucius, Plato, Aristotle, or John Stuart Mill.
That there are documented writings that address the purpose of life and where we find that purpose is an advantage of a religious way of thought. There are also teachers that can provide guidance and help us live in accordance to our purpose.
Discovering Your Own Beliefs
It’s important that you spend some time examining your beliefs. What do you believe? Is every area of your life in alignment with your belief system? If not, why not? For anchors to be really effective in our lives, we must really think through and believe in our belief system. Having halfhearted beliefs does not provide a strong anchor.
Below are a few things you can get started on today that will take you one step closer to discovering the anchors in your life:
Write out and describe the principles that you lead your life by. It might be humility, integrity, and self-sacrifice. Or perhaps, kindness, generosity, and compassion.
Then, think about why you believe in these principles. Why are you so passionate about them? Spoiler alert: If you are not passionate about your beliefs, that is a problem.
Next, think through where your beliefs come from. Do they come from a particular moral philosophy or a religious way of thought?
Lastly, start to immerse yourself in more of the writings and teachings behind your beliefs. Talk with teachers of these beliefs or others who have similar beliefs.
Applying Your Beliefs as Life Anchors
Once you have found the belief system that forms the anchor of your life, you can then start to evaluate and apply your anchors to every aspect of your life. I’ve highlighted a few steps and questions to reflect on below.
Do an audit of your life, your vision, and your path. Are your beliefs in alignment with your life and path?
If your life and path are not in line with your beliefs, outline the steps you will take to get your life and your path into alignment with your beliefs.
An important part in ensuring we are living our beliefs is to talk to our closest friends who are open and nonjudgmental. Tell them what your beliefs are and how they should affect how you live. Get their input as to how you are doing in living out your beliefs.
You may find that your daily life is so full of to-do lists and endless tasks that you forget what anchors you. When this happens, make it a daily practice to spend time strengthening your anchors. Whether it’s through teachings or meditations, it’s essential to feeling calm and centered as you go about your day.
To explore Beyond the Crucible resources, including our free Trials-to-Triumphs Self-Assessment, visit beyondthecrucible.com.
Enjoy the show? Leave a review on your favorite podcast app and leave a comment at our YouTube channel. And be sure subscribe and tell your friends and family about us.
👉 Take the free Trials-to-Triumphs Self-Assessment to discover where you are on your journey of moving beyond your crucible and how to chart your personal course to a life of significance: https://beyondthecrucible.com/assessment/
