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Thursday, January 23, 2014

Breaking Free from Paralysis

In what ways is sin like paralysis? What freedoms has Jesus' word of forgiveness given to you? Where do you need to hear that word again? (Serendipity Bible 10th anniversary edition, page 1394).



Paralysis defined:
1 : complete or partial loss of function especially when involving the motion or sensation in a part of the body
2 : loss of the ability to move
3 : a state of powerlessness or incapacity to act
(Merriam-Webster)

In my young adult years, principally while I was an undergraduate, I suffered from paralysis in the sense that I was afflicted by a state of powerlessness or incapacity to act. I wrote a poem during those years called "Tied Statue". This was very much the way that I looked upon myself emotively—every joint in my body and every thought seemed to be constrained and required great effort even to move . Freedom of spirit was largely unknown to me. But over a period of time this internal repression gave way to a conviction that I must act and do so with integrity of purpose no matter the consequences. Calculation which had been predominant in my every action gave way to spontaneity and freedom. I must say that this was a process. I cannot think of a single moment of revelation in this matter. Partially it was a processing aided and abetted by the circumstances of the times. First, there was the Vietnam War which required a stand contrary to law. This landed me in prison where it was essential to have a firm grasp of who I was and what I stood for. Later, in graduate school I was confronted with the realization that intellectual conviction and integrity required assertion even in the face of academic opposition and disapproval. In my first forays into the world it became clear to me that mission was incompatible with standard views of success and sacrifices inevitably had to be made. Working with youth without any organizational imprimatur to validate my motives, I had to weather suspicion by many of pedophilia. Gradually with time I have come to realize that individual integrity was incompatible with paralysis. I found broad support in many accounts of the Old and New Testaments. Thus religion and experience dovetailed into an approach of assertiveness. At this stage in my life (soon to be 70), I am grateful that at some point I am emerged from being a tied statue into becoming a man with a purpose that would not be denied.




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