freedom ringing

I know, this sounds like an overdue post about July 4th. Keep reading though.

I was in the library the other day and came across some donated art work. It was a collection of statuettes of the Statue of Liberty. Who in the world would collect 5983487 statues of it? WELL, this couple did and donated it.

From that point on all I could think about was the ridonkolousness of the collection, Lady Liberty, and all that surrounds this statute.

Why did the French build it? Why make it out of copper? Why haven't I been yet?

I then remembered these words engraved on her plaque...

"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me.
I lift my lamp beside the golden door."

I was then reminded of His words in Matthew 11:28-30...

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Both invoke a sense of freedom. Both recognize a sense of hardship. Both offer a sense of hope.

Paul writes about Christ setting us free from the Law (in this case ceremonial law) and in turn from sin in Galatians 3.

This is why we think about freedom.
This is why we dream about freedom.
This is why we sing about freedom.

It's beautiful.