Freedom!

“… let your light shine…” (Matthew 5:16).

As the last light of day lingers in the summer sky, Allie likely does one of two things before being tucked away to dream.

Either she goes on a toad hunt — looking under and around all the possible hiding spots where “Sarah,” “Phoebe,” or “Chelsea” might be singing their nighttime song.

Or…

She catches lightning bugs. And when caught, they, too, receive names — “Star”, “Sparkle,” or yes, “Chelsea.” (All three are PERFECT names, after all, for a creature that shines!)

Allie’s bug box has been an “abode” for many living things — though, for most, only a temporary one. (Sadly, there have been a few that haven’t made it out alive to soar or hop or crawl. These we’ve sent on to wherever it is such creatures go with a “God speed” and, sometimes, a proper burial.) Usually, she asks only that the “guest” spends the night — saying, “Just ONE night, Momma — PLEASE!” Her bug box has, thus, become a room of sorts within a larger space — much like a Holiday Inn (End).

When it’s a lightning bug that spends the night, I’ve noticed something quite interesting. Though Allie’s had grand illusions of having a living “nightlight” in her room, the little critter — once placed into the plastic box, along with some grass, a few rocks, and maybe a stick or two — usually (almost immediately) stops lighting up. It just doesn’t.

Now, perhaps there’s an explainable, scientific reason for this phenomenon. I haven’t investigated further yet; however, there DOES seem, at least to me, to be some significance to this occurrence.

It’s in captivity — held by plastic casing and a lid. Despite the appearance of its natural habitat, with the grass and rocks and such, it’s held prisoner. (Yes, even despite the pure motive that placed it there and the invitation to simply be a “guest.”)

No more light.

Though it creeps and crawls about, feeling its way with those little antennae, it refuses — perhaps not by choice even — to emit light. It simply doesn’t.

And it makes sense to me — though I’m quite certain there are many good and even honest people (all with names) this world ’round who are held captive. In a difficult marriage. In an abusive home. Falsely accused men and women who are waking up on this day behind prison bars even — all who CHOOSE to let their light continue to shine.

Choosing to do a kind thing.

Choosing to forgive.

Choosing to sacrifice.

Yes, choosing to love. 

This is true.

And still, the Lesson of the Lightning Bug reminds me today — Independence Day 2014 — that freedom is something that I… that we… should greatly appreciate. It’s something to cherish within the very depths of our being.

It’s come at a great cost.

It continues to cost.

The price — often a sacrificial loss of one’s own freedom.

Yes, even lives lost.

There are many who are spending this July 4th behind prison bars.

And there are many who are remembering a life that was but is no more.

Gone, today, from this earth —

A husband.

A wife.

A child.

A friend.

A good neighbor. 

For our freedom.

Light, too, can be diminished.

Or it can shine.

Today —

Let freedom ring.

Let your light shine.

Honor freedom with a light that cannot…

WILL not

Be diminished. 

And soar.

“So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free” (John 8:36).