FREEDOM…
The year was 1979 and a high school friend of mine was selected to be a part of an All-American band. He was very excited as this band would be touring Europe and even going behind the “Iron Curtain” to visit some of the eastern bloc countries.
While visiting Czechoslovakia he struck up a conversation with a 17 year old girl. In hushed tones the conversation soon turned to the subject of Christianity.
With eyes dotting to and fro for secrecy’s sake this girl told my friend that in order to have a bible study, she and her friends had to be very quiet about getting together. There could be no announcements. No pamphlets. No flyers. Just word of mouth, very tight lipped word of mouth.
She looked to my friend with inquisitive eyes, “What about America? What’s it like to have a Bible study there?”
My friend went on to explain that there was no need for secrecy. Make as many fliers as you want. Publish the pamphlets and tell as many people as you want that you are having a Bible study. There were no constrictions on such activity in the United States of America.
In the moment that it took for all of this mind boggling information to sink into the mind of this 17 year old girl from Czechoslovakia, her mouth went agape and her eyes widened to the size of saucers as she excitedly and loudly concluded back to my friend, “Wow! You must have Bible studies every day!!”
Every July 4th I am haunted by this story. How much we take our liberty, our freedom for granted here in these United States of America.
I have always wondered since the Czech Republic freed itself from the Iron Curtain if this young girl’s passion for Bible study has remained fervent in the freedom that is now afforded to her and her friends…
SeeingGodatWorkEveryDay…
“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5: 1
SeeingGodatWorkEveryDay…
Laugh often and Fear not!
David!
David@seeinggodatworkeveryday.com