Freedom! What a concept. In part it means liberty, not in bondage to, or under the control of, to be set free from.
When the Emancipation Proclamation was taken to Mr. Lincoln by Secretary Seward, for the President's signature, Mr. Lincoln took a pen, dipped it in the ink, moved his hand to the place for the signature, held it a moment, then removed his hand and dropped the pen. After a little hesitation, he again took up the pen and went through the same movement as before.
Mr. Lincoln then turned to Mr. Seward and said: "I have been shaking hands since nine o'clock this morning, and my right arm is almost paralyzed. If my name ever goes into history, it will be for this act, and my whole soul is in it. If my hand trembles when I sign the Proclamation, all who examine the document hereafter will say, 'he hesitated'.
He then turned to the table, took up the pen again, and slowly, firmly wrote "Abraham Lincoln," with which the whole world is now familiar.
He then looked up, smiles, and said, "That will do."
"Lest we forget", we need to take time to remember those who didn't hesitate to go to war, (actually several wars) so that we might live in our free Canada. What an enormous price, so many have paid. So often, I have been lulled into taking their sacrifices for granted.
While you're at it, why don't you join us in thinking about the price Jesus paid to offer us freedom. For starters, freedom from the guilt of our wrongdoing, and freedom from the fear of the future. May we explain that to you?
Pastor John Giesbrecht
