Personal Freedom

Anita Delene Manthe
Oct 28, 2016
2 min read

This morning while at a surgeon’s practice a patient arrived. Four police officers escorted him. He was not handcuffed, nor was he shackled. One officer walked ahead of the patient, two beside him, and one behind. Two officers accompanied him into the waiting room, while the remaining two guarded access paths. Another officer waited at the ambulance. During the examination, an officer was in the doctor’s room with him.

The patient is a political prisoner - an African tribal leader.

I spent the rest of the day thinking about him and wondered what his life must be like in prison. What do his days look like? What about his family, his friends, and associates? Do they get to see him, when and how? Does he receive preferred treatment because of his status of tribal leader? Are the ideals and philosophies that resulted in a prison life still important to him? Would he pursue his political agenda after all these years where he freed?

In thinking of him I thought of the apostle Paul, and the times he spent in prison. Did this political prisoner – the tribal leader - think the same way Paul did? What about you? How would you respond to a life confined and separated from those you love and care for, from the activities you thought gave your life merit and purpose?

How do you function in your very confined life? A life given you by circumstances beyond your control. A marriage to a difficult man, children with disabilities, a life where your circumstances make you feel like you are trapped – someone is before, behind, and on either side of you. Your response, just as with the tribal leader depends on your worldview. Who is in control? Whom do you serve?

LORD, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it. Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me (Psalm 139:1-10).
When they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them (Acts 16:23-25).