Freedom is Precious to Those Who Struggle For It

In 1776 American Revolutionary Thomas Paine wrote in his book The American Crisis, 'The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly.' 

Of course, Paine was talking about the struggle for independence in early America from a tyrannical government. But the truth of his words rang true in my ears as it applies to freedom in general. Those who have never had to struggle for freedom lightly esteem it when they have it. Those who have lost their freedom, if they are taught by the difficult lesson, will esteem that freedom as precious when it is regained.

Prisoners who serve their time and are released are rarely restored by society or their communities into full citizenship again. Even after release from prison, convicted felons are branded with a scarlet letter of shame intended to remind them of their separateness from the rest of the community. Some felons identify with this branding and carry about the weight of their shame, never truly engaging with the community or triumphing over their shame. 

Others, recognizing the possibilities of redemption, face the struggle with confidence and triumph in the end.

I don't expect that life will be easy when I am released from prison, but I know that even when the struggle is hard, the triumph of redemption will be of that much greater value.