November 10th, 2011

Freedom

            Freedom. What does that word bring to your mind? Do you think of politics? The “Arab Spring”? Taxes? Some religious definition? For many of us, “freedom” is nothing more than an academic exercise in arguing. What is true freedom? At this point I will lose a lot of people, but I believe a true understanding of what freedom really is, is found in the person of Jesus. Yes, I had to go “there”; to a religious-churchy place…this is a blog on a church web-page after all…

            Reading the book “Unbroken” by Laura Hillenbrand (also wrote Seabiscuit) gives a whole new prospective on freedom. The book is the account of the Olympic runner Louis Zamperini and his WW II experience in a Japanese prisoner of war camp. More than that, it’s the story of how Louis became free from the horror of his own memory. The book does not bash the Japanese, quite the opposite, it tells of the incredible bravery of two towns that joined forces to erect a moment to the fallen, very moving.

            Freedom. For Louis Zamperini it is not a word for academic discussion on past slavery, current day politics, or whatever else we may use the word for. For Louis, freedom is the result of him honoring a commitment he made to God while floating in the middle of the ocean for almost a month. Unlike many, Louis fulfilled that promise, “God, if you get me out of this, I will give you my life.” Little did he know just how profoundly that in-the-heat-of-the-moment promise would change his life. It didn’t happen overnight, but it did happen – profoundly! It’s almost difficult to believe, to be honest, but it did; and Louis Zampirini is still alive today because of that fulfilled promise. Freedom, what does the word really mean for you? 

Posted: 6 months ago