My fingers made their own wake through cool, crisp, brackish water as the Suzuki 4-stroke propelled us along. The sun beamed through the scattered clouds and warmed us. It was a picture-perfect day to experience the largest freshwater estuary north of Chesapeake Bay.
The year was 2017 and it was our first trip away from our kids for more than 2 nights since becoming parents. “Freedom!” If you’re a parent, hopefully you just chuckled to yourself in relation to the experience. I remember how nervous my wife was about it – and I remember how much we looked forward to it as well. Lori had a very rough pregnancy with our second child and we were ready to celebrate our 8th year of marriage.
We got off the plane late at night in Portland, Maine – late enough that we had to Uber to a hotel and go back to the airport in the morning to get our rental car. Shopping, eating, hanging out: I can’t honestly tell you what we did that day. I’m sure it was fun. We didn’t have any plans for the next 4 days except to explore. After dinner that first day in Portland, we walked around downtown - taking in the sights and the sounds of the new city. I remember walking past an open door that had a distinctly different sound from the previously propped open doors. There was a tune floating in the air and there weren’t people lined up through the door. Kinda what a couple kids from “Nowhere”, Indiana were looking for. We walked in realizing we might have been some of the only people in Portland looking for good music and a quiet spot for a nightcap on a Thursday.
The band was wonderful and talented, and they played everything from classic rock to blues and even threw in a few originals. It’s always a joy to watch artists love what they do – no matter who’s in the crowd. It’s something that is authentic and real, and you just can’t fake it. In between sets a couple of these seasoned professionals even came over to chat with us. We did the “where you from - and what do you do” – and just had a great evening listening to their entertainment. One of the bandmates – we really hit it off with. We got to talk with him and learn a bit about the area from him – he was a real genuine man with a kind way about him. To top it off – he played the harmonica. I don’t know about you, but I have a soft spot for the harmonica. For the purposes of this article, we’ll just call this fella “J”. As we were wrapping up our first night in Maine, the band started wrapping up their gig-worn cables and casing up their melody making tools. Just as we were paying our tab J stopped by our table and posed a question. He asked if we wanted to go out on his boat the next day. It was a rather different request and he wrote his number on a piece of paper and said give him a call the next day if we wanted to go. His place was about an hour out of the city, and it was the same direction we planned on heading. Arcadia National Park was our next destination and the address he gave us was about 5 minutes off the highway. Most people probably would have freaked out a bit and said no way. Logically it sounded like a crazy thing to do – but after spending the last couple hours with J and the band – it just seemed like a authentic opportunity. An opportunity we couldn’t pass up.
We spent several hours the next day heading out into the bay. The interesting thing about Merrymeeting Bay is the fact that it rises and lowers with tide. This concept is totally foreign to a land-locked Hoosier, but I enjoyed hearing J’s knowledge on the vast ecosystem as we spent the day exploring. We went past a shipyard in Bath – made a U-turn and headed back. The tide was going out on our return trip and we spent some time exploring the sand bars that magically appeared as the waters retreated to the Ocean. The vastness and expanse of the area we explored felt like freedom. It was the total experience – and not a tour you can pay $40 and get a ticket for.
Another thing that I vividly remember about that day is the number of bald eagles we saw soaring and gliding through the air. Around each bend there was the possibility to see a pure white crown perched on a giant tree protruding from the rocky hillside. These birds were the apex predator of the area – working and waiting for their next meal. They soared with ease and power. Seeing these raptors in the wild – the way we see whitetail deer standing in the fields – is something I won’t forget. Haliaeetus leucocephalus - the Bald Eagle is forever the bird of our Great Nation, forever the symbol of Freedom.
The word freedom can mean several different things. The first definition in a Google search is this: “the absence of subjection to foreign domination or despotic government.” Hence, we get the celebration for this month. July 4th, 1776 – our founding fathers signed the Declaration of Independence - a “declaration of freedom” They made a choice for which they were willing to suffer greatly – they made a choice for freedom. Some may debate how much freedom we truly have as Americans – and I’ll leave that for a different article, because at the end of this day – I am very much thankful for the freedoms that are still defended in America by courageous men and women. I believe I am truly lucky to be born and reside in this country – no matter it’s flaws.
The second definition that came up is: “the state of not being imprisoned or enslaved.” Well – after reading that – I guess I am free. Right!? I’m not enslaved to any person. I might not agree with a lot going on in government right now, but I can still pretty much do what I want. I’m not in jail now. Yeah – I really am free. Lori and I experienced this type of freedom on our vacation. We weren’t enslaved to our children, our jobs, or our other responsibilities. Preparations had been made to experience the extended vacation as we saw fit.
Shortly after the birthday of America, one of the founding fathers penned a quote that you’ve probably heard mention of at some point in your life.
Our new Constitution is now established and has an appearance that promises permanency; but in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes. – Benjamin Franklin
I’ve mostly heard – or used – this quote in an instance of comic relief. Most commonly – after signing a check made out to the “Internal Revenue Service”. On this topic – I digress – but I would love to back-up and spend the rest of my time focused on 2 words prior to taxes. Two words prior is the word we will all deal with: death. I enjoy Ben Franklin’s wit. We all will contend with his exactness.
I went to dictionary.com just to check. A third definition of freedom: “exemption from external control, interference, regulation, etc.” Who can be exempt from death? If we really look at the word – its meanings and the implications of it – are any of us free?
Since Google, dictionary.com and the world have all let me down trying to figure out this freedom problem, let’s check another place. In John chapter 8, verse 32 is says “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” That’s a good start – but what does it mean. The speaker of these words was a good one. Jesus spoke these words to Jews who believed in him. They believed that he was the Messiah – the son of God and their Savior. What was Jesus going to free them from? They asked him this question in v33 – “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say we shall be set free?” That gets rid of the second definition. They were not enslaved people. Never had been. I guess they were under Roman control. Was Jesus going to establish a new government for them? No – Jesus wasn’t playing politics. He tells them in v. 35 – “everyone who sins is a slave to sin”. They were enslaved to their sin. I’ve sinned. You have sinned. We are each slave to our sin. Romans 6:23a says – For the wages of sin is death…. death. We aren’t exempt. You may be able to file a tax exemption – but there is no paperwork you can file for the other. Or is there?
Romans 6:23 continues - ….but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. God had a plan. HE had a plan that his justice and mercy could co-exist and not find issue with each other. Our wage, our debt could be paid – and he made a way to free us from the bondage of our sin. He sent his one and only son – Jesus – that whoever believes in Him – can have eternal life. He paid the wage for our sin on Calvary’s cross – and he filled out our death-exemption paperwork when he came up out of the grave. It is possible to be free from the enslavement of death – we can have absolute freedom. To wrap up the discussion that Jesus was having with the Jews about their unapparent slavery, he said, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” How powerful is that statement. Only Jesus can set us free, and once he does – there is nothing this world that can enslave us, not even death itself. We are free in the truest meaning of the phrase – free indeed.
I’ve sat in a pontoon boat to watch fireworks detonate at the peak of their flight on the 4th of July. We celebrate the decision of our founding fathers – Benjamin Franklin and like-minded individuals. I’ve glided across Merrymeeting bay in an aluminum boat and watched a bald eagle grab a fish from its chilly, pristine waters. These experiences of freedom have both given me similar feelings and emotions. Freedom in its purest form is a special thing. But what do we do with our freedom? Galatians 5:1 says: “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by the yoke of slavery.” It appears we can relinquish our freedom. While Jesus paid the price for our sin – it is up to us to strive to walk in that perfectly paid for freedom. The rest of this passage says we can’t overcome the law – we can’t overcome the rules. We really can’t do good enough. We only overcome by the one who overcame. Further down Galatians 5 gives us clear and final direction for our freedom.
13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh[a]; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
God defines freedom differently than we do obviously. This scripture challenges us to not “indulge in the flesh”. These are the things that I’ve struggled with – maybe you’ve struggled with. We are probably still struggling with some of them. Alcohol. Foul Language. Sexual Immorality. Pride. Idolatry. Hatred. Jealousy. If you just read that list and thought of all the rules you need to follow to be a Christian – you are missing the point of Freedom. We shouldn’t be driven by the list of things we “can’t” or “shouldn’t” do. This is called religion. This is what Jesus refers to as the law in John 8. There is no set of rules that we can follow or hold. It isn’t possible, and in God’s perfect plan of redemption, Jesus paid the price for all past, present and future sin. There isn’t anything that prohibits us from being saved. This is God’s great love. This is true and perfect freedom.
I'm so thankful for the relationship that began side stage in Portland, Maine. Going out on that boat was an experience of a lifetime that I will forever cherish. I'm thankful my new friend J took the time out of his day to show us around his neck of the woods. I'm thankful for this country and the freedoms we likely take for granted each and every day. Most of all - I'm thankful for Jesus, His death and resurrection. In Him - we can have complete and unequaled freedom. I hope consider putting your trust in him. If you already are - keep living free – and Playing in the Creation.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23
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