Awakenings

One of my favorite movies is Shawshank Redemption.  There are so many great parts of this story, but one of my all-time favorite scenes is when Tim Robbin’s character is in the new library unpacking the boxes of donated books.  He opens a box full of records, and while the prison guard is using the bathroom, he pulls out a record and decides to put it on the record-player.  The music soars and unleashes his spirit, inspiring him to share it with his friends, enemies, and all within earshot.  It’s as if the song unshackles something deep within him, liberating him from fear and giving him the ability to offer this gift of spiritual freedom to others.  In the clip you can tell he knows what will be the repercussions of his decision.  For a moment you can see him hesitating, asking himself if it is worth it…and he decides to go through with it, knowing what the consequences may be.

Who in your world is in need of hope today?  Who is in a prison of circumstances beyond themselves?  Who needs a song, a smile, a hug, a handshake…or just to be heard or understood.  Who needs to be seen, really seen.  If you’ve heard the song of a liberating love, the song that has been whispering through all the ages, the song sung and demonstrated by God Himself to our fallen world, then turn up the volume and blast it to every fellow prisoner you come in contact with!    May we all be willing to BE that song, not only for our own souls, but for the souls of those who surround us.  Because in reality, we’ve already been set free!

Here’s the clip (you’ll have to click it again to go to Youtube):