freedom

As I stared out the window of the 7th floor hospital room, I noticed a sea gull riding the air currents high above the buildings of the complex. This is somewhat unusual inasmuch as we are not near the coast but occasionally a few will get blown off course to our area. The sun reflecting off the white of its wings contrasted with the blue of an absolutely clear sky. Its flight spoke to me of the freedom found in soaring high above the labors, problems and sorrows of the earthbound beings.

High above the gull, a small plane crossed my field of vision at a much faster rate of speed. The plane went out of my sight in a southerly direction, symbolizing to me that these few folks were striving to escape the dullness of the daily routines – or going about the workings of commerce. Like the gull, these also enjoyed for a short time the freedom of flight that the earthbound ones do not.

Up higher still, in the colder, rarefied air of the upper atmosphere, a white contrail evidenced the passage of a large jet at a much higher rate of speed. It was a tiny speck and I was unable to identify whether it was an airliner filled with folks enjoying the freedom of movement around the country or a military jet at the business of protecting that freedom – as well as the other freedoms we are privileged to have.

As I watched these three flights, for a brief second all of them lined up in my sight, one directly over and beyond the other at different altitudes. Pondering this, I saw a certain symbolism in the occurrence. My hospital room vantage point suggested our human limitations, yet still looking up to view the freedom of other things like the gull. The small plane spoke to me of the freedoms of a few folks and the high-flying jet indicated even wider views and concepts of freedom.

Then the three flights passed from my view, leaving just the clear blue sky and this suggested to my mind that there was an even higher freedom. This is a freedom that goes beyond the limited ones that we have in the human experience – a spiritual freedom. This freedom comes to us as a gift from God through Jesus Christ – but we must ask for it.

This hospital room of my viewings is the present residence of my wife’s Dad and he is literally fighting for his every breath. He was transported back here on Sunday and he is desirous of freedom to breathe or to be free of this body suffering from multiple health problems, the worst at the present being a very weak heart and double pneumonia. He has voiced his preparedness and desire to leave and go be with his Maker, who will explain to him all the reasons for things that he doesn’t understand now. ec

PS – Wed. pm - FIL is still with us as of this writing and his condition has stabilized a bit but it’s still a struggle for him to breathe – your prayers would be appreciated.