Freedom.
It is what I experience when I run. It is what I feel when I worship. It is the life I live in Christ.
And yet so many others live in bondage. Whether it is literal slavery or spiritual bondage, God’s command is for us to care for them and bring justice and freedom.
But we don’t. That may be because we choose to ignore it, choose to stay busy and involved in our own lives or because we just don’t know what to do to change it.
Yesterday was Freedom Sunday and in church we heard from one of my friends who is working to end modern-day slavery through the organization, Not for Sale. We also heard Pastor Doug relate stories about the World War II era and how everyone was doing something for the war effort. Women joined the workforce in jobs typically held by men. Retired men went back to work. Kids saved aluminum gum wrappers. And so much more. And people talked about how they were supporting the war.
All afternoon I kept asking myself how I was supporting the war effort in regards to slavery and in regards to human souls.
It is easy to say, “but I don’t know what I can do.” It is hard to get past that and actually look for what we can do. Or so we think. But it really isn’t that hard. How much time do we spend on Facebook or watching TV each day? What if we spent a little time on the Not for Sale website and researched how we could get involved instead? Something as easy as downloading an app for your phone that can help you make decisions as you shop based on whether or not the manufacturer is known to use forced labor in their production process can be a start. And who knows what else you will be prompted to do.
There are things we can do. There are things we are called to do. We just need to ask the Lord to show us what our place is in His liberating work. And then we need to follow through and take our place.
How are you supporting the war effort?