An Amazing Moment

An amazing moment from the epidemic of 1863 provides inspiration for today.

Today marks the anniversary of one of the greatest speeches in history, the Gettysburg Address. In less than five minutes, President Lincoln reminded Americans who we were as a nation and why we were continuing to fight.

At age 57, I often smile and reflect on the time I took, now over 22 years ago, to memorize his precious words honoring those who bled and died at Gettysburg.

In recent years, historians have brought to light that President Lincoln actually gave the speech after having contracted smallpox, one of the deadliest diseases in human history. As impacting as Covid 19 is, smallpox was much more devastating.

A disease that claimed the lives of countless millions over thousands of years until it was eliminated, late in the 20th century. Sadly, William Henry Johnson, President Lincoln’s assistant, a free African American, died two months later from the dreaded disease.

The speech closes with these words:

“We here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

Smile with me today, as you take a moment to recognize that our 16th President gave this amazing speech at the same time that he personally, and our nation, were battling an epidemic.

May his words give us courage to face a new day, even in the midst of the ongoing pandemic, to live up to the highest ideals of our nation, seeking the help of God in the process.

And let us take time today to remember an amazing moment during the epidemic of 1863 that provides inspiration for today.