Freedom Worth Fighting For

FREEEEDOM!!!  Do you remember this infamous scene in Braveheart where Mel Gibson’s character, William Wallace, has his face painted blue and he is leading his Scottish warrior troops into battle against King Edward I of England during the First War of Scottish Independence? This is required cinema viewing at our house, so if you have never seen this movie, stop what you are doing and watch it.  It is an historical fiction war film, and it is really excellent.  

When we moved to Arizona, part of the check list for moving out of state is always obtaining the super fun driver’s license and license plates.  My driver’s license photos have been in a downward spiral it seems each and every time I need a new one.  But, I do still find it exciting to get new plates.  In most states, there are a myriad of causes one can support with a license plate.  In Arkansas, I had the pro-life license plate.  I had the classic Colorado plates when we lived there. 

Being real here, I liked how it looked.  Yep, that is how I selected that one. 

When we moved to Arizona, we had all sorts of choices once again.  My husband chose the license plate that supports the Arizona Veterans Association fund.  It looks like the 4th of July!  It has a waving American flag on it, and all of “numbers” start with 4FR…  When he first came home with his new plates, I couldn’t help myself.  I shouted FREEEEDOM!  We both laughed.  Who doesn’t love freedom?  There is something very liberating about screaming that at the top of your lungs. 

Do you know what else is liberating?  Confession. 

Confess your sins to a priest in the holy sacrament of reconciliation, receive absolution from the priest who is acting in persona Christi, and you will feel like you can take on the world.  This world is broken.  We’ve always known this, and yet it seems like each day, there is a new low in society.  I don’t know why, but I’m still shocked sometimes when I turn on the news.  Each and every one of us lives with the fall of Adam and Eve. 

We carry brokenness, hurt, and despair with us, and we need this powerful sacrament. 

I’m the first to admit that I don’t make it to confession as often as I would like (insert pride and vanity along with my brokenness here).  I think more people are like me than not.  We know we need confession, but it is hard to go.  Last time I went, we were still having drive thru confessions, and it felt GOOD.  The holy and supernatural cleansing of my soul was real.  Afterwards, my heart screamed FREEEDOM as I drove off.  No, I was not on a horse with shaggy hair and blue paint on my face, but my freedom from the chains of sin were forgiven and I felt like William Wallace was possibly galloping beside me. 

I truly felt the overwhelming weight of sin lifted off my soul, and I was ready to take on the world.  If you want true freedom in your life, I promise that it can only be found in Christ Jesus, and this freedom is certainly worth the fighting for.