Vicar’s Page
                                                       

Autumn 2007

THE FREEDOM STORY

 Every so often – about once a year or so - I sit down to watch my favourite film, The Shawshank Redemption. Even if I discover it's on television and join it part way through, I'm pretty well compelled to follow it through to the end.

The film, set in 1940's America, tells the story of a young banker – Andy Dufresne - who is wrongly accused of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment in Shawshank prison. There he encounters a brutal regime, led by a corrupt warder and administered by violent guards. For a while it's all he can do to survive. But, unlike some of his fellow inmates, Andy manages to hold onto hope and it's that hope which not only helps to bring some change to the lives of others in prison with him, but which also leads – eventually – to freedom.

 The Shawshank Redemption was not a big hit at the box-office. Only when it was released on video did news of it grow through word of mouth until, today, it regularly features at or near the top of lists of people's favourite films.

 I believe that people are hungry for stories of hope and stories of freedom and that's why the film resonates with so many. Certainly whenever I see it I feel my spirit lifted, because I recognize in its story an echo of the greatest freedom story of all – the gospel of Jesus Christ.

 Unlike the film, the gospel is a story we're all invited to be a part of. Once we recognize Jesus as the one who came to set us free from all that drags us down – including our own wrongdoing - once we admit our need of him and ask him to be our Saviour, Teacher and Lord, he has promised to make us part of his story. And at that point, when we have made the decision to join, we begin a journey to freedom.

 Much like that of the film, the story for followers of Jesus won't always be pretty or comfortable: sometimes, in fact, it'll be incredibly tough going. But along the way we will discover how hope can transform our lives and the lives of those around us. At its end is the promise of ultimate freedom, and life in the loving presence of God forever.

 You may never see The Shawshank Redemption: indeed, watching films might be something that really doesn't appeal to you. No matter. But I really do hope you get the opportunity to discover the freedom story of Jesus and – even better – become a part of that story yourself. This side of the grave at least, that's a story it's never too late to start.

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