Erin Hanson, an American painter once remarked: "There is freedom waiting for you, On the breezes of the sky, And you ask "What if I fall?" Oh but my darling, What if you fly?" Isaiah 40:31 reminds us: “But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”
Wings are the symbol of God’s grace and govern the powerful embodiment to fly. "Flying free" emanates a profound shift toward emotional, spiritual, and mental liberation, enabling individuals to rise above the shallows of fear, shame, and self-imposed limitations. It emulates a keen sense of freedom, weightlessness, and total release from the burdens of everyday existence. It often mirrors a state of flow or, in a physical sense, the thrill of adventure and self-reliance. It can echo a source of excited release and self-sufficiency, offering a unique perspective within breathtaking views of clouds, landscapes, and city lights.
It can become a focused, intense experience of controlling an instrument which manages adversity, while also doubling as a peaceful escape from everyday stresses and strains. For many, it's a feeling of manumission, wonderment, and a sense of being aloft and detached from the world below. Freedom is also considered the power or right to act, speak, or think without external restraints or coercion. It is the ability to make choices and pursue aspirations, often regarded as a fundamental human right and encompassing concepts like liberty, autonomy, and independence. While sometimes defined as "freedom from" external restrictions (negative liberty), it can also be understood as "freedom to" have the means or control to achieve self-determination (positive liberty). It includes the scope to act as one wishes.
Many biblical stories illustrate how God is present in daily life. The phrase also evokes a general theological idea of freedom, spiritual healing, and a deep personal relationship with God, as seen in the Bible verse John 8:36, "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed". The wings of flight are considered the universal symbol of emancipation because they represent the ability to rise above limitations, explore new horizons, and break free from constraints. This symbolism is seen in art, literature, and culture, where wings can represent independence, spiritual transcendence, and the triumph over adversity. "Flying free" primarily symbolizes freedom, liberation, and personal empowerment, which are often associated with inner strength, resilience, and the ability to overcome limitations. It does not necessarily indicate physical strength in a literal sense, but rather a profound form of mental or emotional fortitude.
"Flying free with God" is the ultimate beneficial and positive prospect of life. It generally refers to a sense of spiritual freedom and salvation from restrictive beliefs or situations. It is a metaphor often seen in a spiritual or religious context, referring to a life lived in a closer relationship with God, free from the burdens of fear, sin, and worldly expectations. It is associated with a deep sense of release and spiritual well-being. It can be viewed positively as a journey of faith, which includes growth and self-discovery. Or critically, as a way to describe breaking free from controlling environments or interpretations of faith that are deemed harmful, as seen by some
A typical perspective highlighted in the biblical story about being unhindered is in Acts 28:30-31, which describes the apostle Paul proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance during his house arrest in Rome. This concluding passage of the Book of Acts highlights how the gospel's message continued to spread despite the external obstacles and imprisonment Paul faced throughout his ministry, such as beatings, shipwrecks, and threats. It reminds us: “Therefore I want you to know that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!” For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ - with all boldness and without hindrance!
"Flying free" is a powerful metaphor contained within a sense of liberty. It is often used to describe a state of emotional or spiritual liberation. In this sense, it can emerge like having "wings that can soar above the turbulence of life." A sense of freedom allows individuals to make personal choices, which can lead to personal growth, a stronger sense of self, and greater life satisfaction. It enables people to align their lives with their own values and goals, fostering creativity and innovation. Conversely, a lack of freedom can lead to negative psychological consequences like stress and feelings of helplessness.
For some, life can appear to have a specific tyranny filled with hazards, obstacles and the petty things that certain existences offer on a personal basis. Flying free overcomes this drawback, allows for the necessary and cloudless lift that provides unrestricted views and calmness. Tyranny becomes oppresessed and opens the doorway to a better and more carefree life. Exodus 1:12-14 reminds us: “But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad. And the Egyptians were in dread of the people of Israel. So they ruthlessly made the people of Israel work as slaves and made their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and brick, and in all kinds of work in the field. In all their work they ruthlessly made them work as slaves.”
Tyranny is overwhelmingly considered bad because it involves cruel, oppressive, and illegitimate rule. The modern definition of tyranny is pejorative, implying a negative and harmful form of government where a single ruler or group holds absolute power without legal restraint, often maintained through fear and the suppression of dissent. Colossians 2:1-5 is about the apostle Paul's deep concern for the spiritual well-being of believers, especially those he had not met personally. He explains that he "struggles" on their behalf through prayer and his ministry so that they can be encouraged, united in love, and gain a full and certain knowledge of God's mystery - Christ. This knowledge is vital to protect them from being misled by false teachings and to provide a firm foundation for their faith.
The passage reminds us: “For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.” Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States once remarked: “It is not my nature, when I see a people borne down by the weight of their shackles - the oppression of tyranny - to make their life more bitter by heaping upon them greater burdens; but rather would I do all in my power to raise the yoke than to add anything that would tend to crush them.” Revelation 4:8 describes heavenly worship directed at God, emphasizing His holiness, power, and eternal nature. The verse states that four living creatures, described as having many eyes and six wings, ceaselessly proclaim, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come". This is a powerful symbolic image of perpetual worship and a reminder of God's absolute perfection, supreme authority, and existence outside of time. It reminds us: “And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!””
Amen.
