A QUIET REVOLUTION

(Post by: Madie Hobbs)

Prior to visiting Williamsburg, Virginia, I did not know much about the historical figure of James Madison. I knew, of course, he was our fourth president, and he wrote some of the federalist papers, but besides that, he was a mystery to me.  

The Colonial Williamsburg foundation puts on interesting shows for people who are visiting, which is explained briefly in my last blog post, and one of the figures my family and I were able to see was James Madison. When I tell you his presentation was wonderful, I use the word to its very fullest extent.  

He discussed in great detail his education, the great philosophers he learned from, the boarding school he attended, and the way these things shaped his entire life. He was a very quiet man, and not entirely sociable, which made him rather endearing to me, as I can relate with his personality.  

You would think, however, that possessing these qualities would not make him inclined towards politics, and he admitted as much in his presentation. He claimed that he was quiet, and sometimes harsh, and was not particularly interested in making a name for himself that would go down in history. This was another point on which I could relate with him.  

Over the course of my life, I wouldn’t say that I have been uninterested in making a mark that would be remembered in history, but much of my time has been spent behind the scenes, and I have been primarily content with this. I have lived in quiet solitude for most of my sixteen years of life, and I must say I have grown quite fond of it.  

Not many of you know this, but over the past year or so, I have taken up writing. I’ve worked on writing a few of my own novels and am hoping to possibly pursue a career in writing fiction. James Madison was also a passionate writer and spent a good deal of his presentation discussing this passion and how it was the reason he did such great things.  

He said one specific thing in his talk that I have committed to memory, and which has been an inspiration to me ever since I heard it. He spoke so eloquently of the revolution he was truly fighting as our nation became independent and called it a “paper revolution”. He spoke from the depths of his heart regarding the eternity of the written word, and how writing has the power to change all our lives.  

The one specific thing he said was this…  

“Is not the Revolution we find ourselves engaged in one that will outlive all of us? One where quiet people sit, in quiet moments, and with pen and paper quietly put forth ideas that thunder through the world. Is not this a Revolution worth dying for?”  

I’m sure this quote will not have quite as profound an impact on some of you as it did on me, but may I just say that these are some of the most beautiful, elegant, and radically inspiring words I have ever before heard.  

You see, at the end of his presentation, he left me with a desire to be a Founder in my own time. To be someone who quietly thunders through the pages of history and is ultimately a vessel the Lord uses to turn the tides of Good and Evil.  

That day, the Lord impressed upon my heart one simple thing: Sometimes, I call quiet people to do loud things, even when they don’t think they can. 

I know, dear reader, especially if you are quiet and deeply feeling like me, that may sound like the most difficult thing God could ever call you to do. It quite possibly sounds downright terrifying to some of us. But may I just encourage you today that what you do with your quietness could echo through the tides of history and make a profound impact on the Kingdom of Heaven.  

I truly believe the Lord does some of His best work in the people who utter as few words as possible. Who are perfectly content living in the shadows and assisting others in their climb to the stars. Who are equipped with humility and passion. We have seen God use these character descriptions over and over again throughout scripture.  

The primary thing that matters is what you choose to do with your quiet personality in your quiet moments.  

“But let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious” (I Peter 3:4 ESV).  

Do not allow your quiet personality to hinder you from doing the powerful things the Lord calls you to. But go on boldly, more boldly, in making your mark for the Kingdom of Heaven. Allow God to do His best work in you, and hand your passions over to Him, so they may be used to their fullest extent.  

This is how we begin a quiet Revolution.  

“If something burns your soul with passion and desire, it is your duty to be reduced to ashes by it. Any other form of existence would be yet another dull book in the library of life.”
~ Charles Bukowski  

SO, WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE?

= What do you do with your quiet moments?

= How do you want to be remembered in history?

= What are you going to do differently?