Freedom

The young man stood staring at his cell door. He has finally received his once sought freedom. But now the thought of such freedom begins to cripple him. These walls once felt stifling, he remembers his first night in the joint. It was horrifying. The walls seemed to crush his lungs, he couldn't breath. But now he as he looks out the door he gets that similar feeling. The open door he faces seems unreal, but this is not a dream this time. It is reality, he has his freedom.

He cannot seem to accept his freedom. These walls that once were a prison have become his friends. He has grown accustom to them. He has spent a many a night with them speaking with his friends in his mind. He knows them like the back of his hand, every nook and cranny he has explored. They are more than walls to a prison. This room has become his home. He does not wish to leave.

He cannot remember when the change occurred. These once hated walls became close personal friends. The bed once felt lumpy and cold, but now it feels soft and warm. This change now plagues him. He stands before an open door, a door to freedom, but his feet will not move. They are weighted down beyond his strength. His leg muscles have turned to mush as the blood in his lower veins has turned to iron.

He knows but one cure to this disease. He must remember what this freedom cost. That is what must move his legs now. It cannot be by sheer will power, for that will not help him in this moment. He must remember his dearly bought freedom which he had once before. He now has that same freedom again. He must take advantage of it. He must not remain, it is unnatural for him to remain. His freedom has been bought. Freedom is something that should not be denied, while some choose to do so, this man will not. He has seen others who have had their freedom paid for by the judge. But he didn't meet them as a free man, he met them in here. They were set free but they could not leave. It was unthinkable, so much so that it scared them. They could not walk out of the cell door. There doors continued to stay open, waiting for the day they chose to walk out as free men. For some it will take days, others months, some years and still others will never know that freedom.

This man experienced the freedom for a period of time. But his freedom seemed burdensome. So he choose his cell yet again. But it has finally come. He is choosing the burden of freedom. He will not remain in this cell. Never again will he choose to live in it. To prevent his return he has inscribed the wall. All whose cells are open and all free men know this saying. But some cannot remember it because they have allowed it to slip from their minds. The inscription reads "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him!"

If he ever returns he will see the inscription. This inscription will not allow him to stay. So as he reads this again he begins to walk. He exits the door to his former prison and never looks back.