I keep seeing the image of a person wrapped with a clear
plastic that resembles spiritual Saran Wrap. The wrapping winds around them in
a continuous strand all the way from their shoulders down to their ankles. At
first I thought it was a funny prank, but then I looked at the person’s face
and realized it wasn’t a prank. It was real. I could see the look of regret for
having allowed things to get this far. The person could walk but only by taking
little steps that moved them forward an inch at a time. They were afraid
of tipping over so every step was measured. Their arms were pressed tight against
their sides under the restraining presence of the wrapping. They were no longer
free to embrace another person or the new season of freedom God was now
offering.

The person reminded me of a modern day version of Lazarus,
but without the tomb. Now that the wrappings had fully enclosed their life they realized what they had allowed to happen. Their life had become a prison where they were the only person incarcerated. In that
moment of desperate realization they knew it was time to find freedom at any
cost. For the first time in recent memory they had a glimmer of hope that they
might be able to explore new relationships and new opportunities, but first
they had to get free.

The person began to cry out to God for help. Each cry became a pair of spiritual
scissors cutting away the layers of deception that held them captive. One by one
the wrappings fell to the ground. Their arms became free first, then their legs.
Each limb once free was tested to rediscover its full range of motion.

The person began to run around like a young colt discovering its legs for the first time right after birth. The look on the persons face
changed from fear to joy. Anticipation and hope returned because
now the only wrappings that held the person were the bonds of God’s love. With those
wrappings in place they were finally free to move forward in life taking steps
as large as their faith.