Eclectic Waters

Archive for November, 2006

A small bird sits in the middle of its cage. It crouches in the shadows of the cage’s bars that streak its body like a plaid suit.

One day the door to its cage is thrown open. There is no one around, but in the distance the bird sees what looks like a cross. Instead of flying into its new freedom, the sparrow continues to sit in the middle of the cage, disbelieving. This can’t be real, it thinks.

Many days pass and the bird continues to crouch in the cage, every now and then glancing at the open door, waiting for it to close.

The door remains open.

Moving one foot forward at a time, the bird slowly inches itself towards the open door. With a small jump it lands on the ledge, hovering between the cage and open space. It waits to be pushed back into the cage. The bird waits a long time. No one and nothing comes to push it back in.

The bird hops outside.

But every night, after exploring and enjoying its new found freedom, the bird returns to the cage. It is familiar; it feels safe. This continues for many days.

One night the bird forgets to return. He is sitting on a slim branch, overlooking a peaceful valley of flickering lights and falls asleep. When he awakens the next morning, he finally realizes, I don’t need the cage, and he never returns to the shadows.

—–

So often I am like this bird -

I thought of this image when I read the words “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of life set me free from the law of sin and death.” – Romans 8:1-2

This was my answer to my own question: What does it mean to be set free?

Instead of embracing the freedom of Christ and the new life he would lead me to – I return to my cage of sin, guilt, shame and defeat – because it is familiar. I want to get to a deeper realization of how Christ has set me free, and not return to the cage.