Freedom Observed Through an Open Door
Freedom in a Post 9-11 world.
By: Brian M
Murray, IMH
The automatic door swung open and the
soldier walked into the shopping store only to observe what appears to be an
accident. There was a lady on her knees and bending over crying and a crowd
was beginning to gather around her to figure out what was wrong. Did she fall?
Was she hurt? What is wrong? The soldier moved down the aisles looking back as
he watched others come to her aid. Grabbing a few items he came for, he headed
for the checkout and noticed the scene had not changed. The soldier taking into
consideration his emergency training approached the crowd seeing if there was
something he could do. He was a stranger in another country and knew there
would be a language barrier should he offer assistance. “What is the matter?”
asked the soldier. Someone turned around and said, “This is the first time she
has ventured into the west since the Berlin Wall came down and the East opened
up to the West. This is the first store she has visited. She sees all of the
food and she is overcome with emotion. She will be okay, just some comforting.”
The soldier stood back, taken by the moment
and realizing for the first time in his young life he witnessed the profound
impact freedom has on a person. Here is a woman who is witnessing a grocery
store full of produce, meats, dairy and everything in between. A woman who
stood in line for hours just to get a loaf of bread for the past 40 years now
sees a store full of everything she could possibly want and becomes overwhelmed
with emotions. If there was ever a question of purpose in that young soldier’s
life before that day it was surely answered in that moment.
That story always stuck with me,
because I was the soldier who entered that store that day. I saw something
unfold right before me I never fathomed even happening. I knew it was hard for
those on the east side of the border. To witness the Berlin Wall come down and
be stationed in Germany when the two sides reunified taught me the value of
freedom. From that day on I never took it for granted again. I stopped by for
bread, milk and little something for dinner. A luxury I took for granted and
never thought twice about it and here was this woman who had the same intent
and it dropped her to her knees.
On September 11th
as we remember the tragedy and lives lost that day it serves as a constant
reminder that there is something much more sinister at work in the world. Freedom was attempted to be taken away by
trying to shut a door in the face of the American people and the liberty for
which it stands. Unfortunately for some on that fateful day it was taken away
from them. I will always remember the lady who wept in the store, freedom
observed through an open door. Perhaps you have a personal story where freedom
was observed or one where freedom was attempted to be taken away. Perhaps you
were someone at ground zero or joined the military in response to the threat to
liberty of future generations. Any way we respond it is often the same. The
threat to freedom is a threat to the very nature of being human. Many brave
people responded to 9-11 to protect and sacrifice themselves for the very
freedom that was threatened that day. I am very thankful I live in a place
where I am free.
Brian M Murray is
a Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern with the Lifeworks Group located in
Winter Park Florida.
