What is the author of freedom?
Who wrote its book?
It was written by a unique author;
Let’s take a look.
Now, freedom is not earned
Freedom is a gift
Yet many have futilely fought for it
If you get my drift.
Yes, though fought for,
It has remained at large
And the pseudo freedom that ensued
Was a bully in charge.
A freedom with limitations
Imposed by the strong
Lording it over the less fortunate,
Forced to go along.
A freedom with few rights
Like the “wild Indians”
That were free to live out their life
On stipulated reservations.
This is not the freedom
To which I am referring
But a freedom that actually releases
The one who is hurting.
Its author is not obvious
To the unforgiving
But a step in the right direction
Improves one’s living.
It is forgiveness:
The author of freedom,
The author of freedom is forgiveness!
See the problem?
Forgiveness releases me
To get on with my life,
Setting me free from the bitter humbug
And its attendant strife.
‘Tis the problem
That we see in the world:
Engulfing individuals and communities
Its tentacles unfurl.
‘Tis no ethnicity
Its tentacles reach not
And from generation to generation
They teach the lot.
Fathers ate sour grapes,
Set children’s teeth on edge
And unforgiveness separates us all
Like an evil wedge.
The quest for freedom
Is a futile affair
But when forgiveness shows up
Bondage must disappear.
The wars that we fight
Did not start yesterday
But they all have their genesis
In an original fray.
And this festered
And grew alarmingly,
Its wedge going deeper and deeper
Diminishing unity.
Unforgiveness set in
And forgiveness receded
Thus, real freedom was thwarted,
Its cry not heeded.
Both parties in a bind
Not to mention also blind
And freedom sought remains at large
In unforgiveness’ grind.
I dare say it matters not
Who was wronged,
Forgiveness is that critical first step
In the liberty song.
To forgive and forget
Though the latter takes time
But let forgiveness be uppermost
In the mind.
“And forgive those,”
The model prayer instructs
Thus, hastening the freedom we need
And for which we look.
The only freedom there is
Is freedom in God
And He has designed the path thus:
Forgiveness is His call.
Stewart Russell © October 10, 2025
