Life in Prison

I am slowly working my way through Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Letters and Papers from Prison.  I am in a section of letters that he is writing to his parents.  Here is a man who has been arrested by the Nazi authorities and locked up in a little cell.  He is allowed out for 30 minutes a day.  He has watched friends and associates face execution.  He knows, barring a miracle, he is on the same path.  In this he writes these words:

“The important thing is to make the best use of one’s possessions and capabilities – there are still plenty left – and to accept the limits of the situation, by which I mean not giving way to feelings of resentment and discontent.”   page 40

I don’t know about you, but I have times in life when I am feeling so locked in by circumstances.  I feel like I am chained and handicapped by work and family.  I want to get out and soar.  I feel trapped.  At first Bonhoeffer shamed me.  Compare our situations.  He has a ten foot square cell.  I have a world to explore. 

Then Bonhoeffer inspired me.  I thought about the verse in Proverbs I had just been reading and posting about.  I found myself pondering.  I allowed this giant of the faith to speak to me through the intervention of the Holy Spirit.  He had his Bible and a few books.  I have that.  He had the hope of the living God in his heart.  I have that.  I found myself lifting up as on wings of eagles.

I thank God again for not only His Word and His Spirit, but for the giants of the faith that have left a testimony for us.

Blessings on your day.