The Freedom Trail

I ran the Freedom Trail in Boston today. The Freedom Trail is a red line marked on the sidewalks and streets in Boston that will take you from the Boston Common to the Bunker Hill Monument. The trail contains historical sites that are part of the history of the events that are known as the American Revolutionary War.

As I ran the Freedom Trail today, I thought about the revolutionary war’s historical figures and their passion for liberty. I started my run at Bunker Hill Monument thinking about the thousands and thousands who died in this first battle of the revolution. The trail then led me to the Charlestown Navy Shipyard where I saw the U.S.S. Constitution, the most celebrated ship in Navy history. She is considered to be the ship that “has never failed us!” (Commodore Bainbridge) yet many men failed to return home alive from her battles. As I passed their homes and churches and the places where their businesses used to be I thought of the Sons of Liberty; James Otis, Paul Revere, John Hancock, and Sam Adams to name a few. They risked everything to forge the path of independence for the colonists.

As I ran past the Old State House, I remembered how the Declaration of Independence was read publically for the first time from the balcony. And then it happened like it usually does. My mind turns to spiritual things and I thought of another declaration of independence that was also stated publically. It wasn’t spoken from a balcony. It was spoken from a cross. This declaration was “It is finished.” This declaration forged a freedom trail of another kind.

The freedom trail Jesus created was of a spiritual nature. And it was for “whoever will believe.” Jesus’ trail started in a manger when He was born into the human race. The end of this freedom trail leaves behind an empty cross and an empty tomb. The Prince of Heaven agreed to liberate the sons and daughters of men held captive by sin. He willingly sacrificed Himself so that we might spiritually live. The Bible tells us that Jesus was sinless yet He took the penalty for sinful man on Himself. But God delivered Him by raising Him from the dead and now we who believe in Jesus are sons and daughters of liberty.

The Freedom Trail. The one in Boston occurred in the realm of men and led to the birth of a new country. The one in Christ, occurred in the realm of the spirit and leads to the new birth of human souls.

God's Timing

A friend of mine sent me a card with the following poem:

When the time was right,
the worlds were made, the flood subsided,
the sea was parted, the walls fell down,
the lion’s mouths were shut,
the storm was silenced, the blind could see,
the lame could walk, the captives went free,
the tomb was forever emptied.

God’s timing is always right,
His power is great,
His plan for you is good,
His hold on you is secure--
and He’ll see you through.

This card prompted an immediate meditative mode on the subject of God’s timing. I admit up front that I do not understand God’s timing and I will probably never understand God’s timing. I do my best to be patient and persevere as I wait on God and confess to finding this extremely hard to do at times. I do my best through quoting Scriptures and trying to have an attitude of patience, including trying positive thinking, but it’s seems like I have to work incredibly hard. When I become impatient I get frustrated. When I get frustrated I begin to question and doubt. I know that whenever I begin to question and doubt that something is not going right in my heart and mind.

As I prayed for a new perspective on God’s timing and my role in waiting on God, I began to see that my be-patient approach is attempted more in my own power than it is in God’s power. Hence the challenges and frustration. I also began to realize there is more than just a need for a patiently-waiting response from me. Submitting to God’s timing also requires trust. I am to trust God’s timing just as much as I am to be patient while I wait for Him.

Instead of focusing more on being patient, I have focused more the last couple of days on trusting God. I have noticed a difference in my ability to be patient and am beginning to see that patience is a by-product of trust, not the other way around. I know that I am doing all that I can do on my part in faith and obedience. When I have done all I can do, I am to continue to trust God and exercise faith and patience.

God is trustworthy. We can trust Him even if He doesn’t operate on our timetable. God's timing is always right.