As Wilberforce grew in his contemplative desire, so too was he drawn to the dark places. The mystic who wrote the Cloud of Unknowing calls the place of highest contemplation a dark cloud, where all that we think we see and know about God falls away. As Wilberforce sees the light of God in the beauty of spider webs and dandelions, so too does he see through them to the abyss of God's nature, where no image or thought is lofty enough to express God in who God is.
It is a similar cloud that captures Wilberforce as he gazes into the injustice around him. The film presents his explorations of the slave trade simultaneous to his exploration of God's creation. The Spirit seems to be drawing him to contemplate human suffering and inhuman action of degradation at the same time. William Pitt comes to him with abolitionists because he knows Wilberforce has already been touring the East India Docks and been staring at the injustice in the face. Even though he admits that for him "it's like arsenic.
Each new tiny dose doubles the effect," (Amazing Grace, 14:30) still he looks and suffers with God. His body is wracked in sympathy with the pain of his soul.
It is suggested to Wilberforce that he can do both the work of God and the work politic. From that time on the film demonstrates Wilberforce finding God through contemplation and action. His passion for abolition provides him a window on the nature of God and his contemplation of God's nature fuels and refuels his commitment to action.
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