Fireworks, Kite Flying and Freedom

Two nights after the fourth of July, some loud explosions jolted our dog, TJ, and me out of our sleep. The explosions sounded like they were in our front yard! With my heart pounding, I ran to get TJ’s “thunder shirt,” recommended by our vet as a good alternative to giving him tranquilizers.

 “Just put a t shirt on him,” the vet had said.

 Al’s “Sugar Loaf Mountain Run” t shirt from the ‘80s fit tightly around TJ’s barrel- shaped chest and seemed to help calm him down.  After I got back into bed, Al stirred from his slumber enough to ask what happened.

I explained that the fireworks had scared TJ, but that the shirt had helped. Al drifted off to sleep again, while TJ lay down next to the bed and resumed his sleep as well; however, I stayed awake in anticipation of another blast.

On the 4^th of July, a friend from India who lives and works here in the U.S. sent a greeting via email. In a subsequent email, I asked if there was an Independence Day in India.

He wrote back that India celebrates its Independence Day on August 15^th. On that day in 1947, India became free from British rule. Each year on the 15^th, schools raise the national flag and hold parades for the schoolchildren.

Our friend went on to explain that they also celebrate by flying kites and that the sky would be filled with them. When I asked if it is normally windy during that time of year, he responded that the wind conditions are usually perfect for kite-flying. Also, he mentioned that most Indians are very good at flying kites even if there is not much wind.

 It was interesting to learn that the sport is competitive, with people trying to cut the strings of the kites that fly higher than theirs! He said it is a “healthy” competition, but then mentioned that people often get into fights over cut kite strings! That didn’t sound healthy to me!

The idea of flying kites on Independence Day is appealing though. It would be less hazardous than fireworks and certainly a lot quieter around the neighborhood. And there is usually enough of a breeze here in Michigan, if not a gale!

While our independence is something that we cherish, few of us actually experience freedom in our personal lives. Either we are subjected to our own passions or to the things of this world…wealth, power and the greed for “more” to name just a few.

Jesus addressed the issue of freedom when speaking to a crowd of people in Jerusalem who had gathered around to hear his teaching.

“To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.’

They answered him, ‘We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that will shall be set free?’

Jesus replied, ‘I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.’” (John 8: 31-36 NIV)

The people who heard Jesus’ message objected saying that they had never been enslaved, a very curious answer. Had they not been under bondage in Egypt for over 400 years? Had they not been taken into captivity by the Assyrians and then the Babylonians? Were they not under Roman rule at that very moment?

No, they were not free. But Jesus skipped that point and went to the heart of the matter. They were indeed slaves—slaves to sin. We all are. Not one of us can measure up to God’s holy standard, nor can we set ourselves free from the power that sin holds over us.

 Thanks be to God, who loves us so much that He gave His only Son to bear the punishment for our sins and to set us free from its bondage. Through Jesus we are forgiven, adopted into God’s family; and through the Holy Spirit, we are empowered to live in a way that pleases Him.

Do you have a spiritual Independence Day? If so, celebrate! If not, “…now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2 NIV)