FREEDOM

Within a well-made pasture fence

From cool shade of a tree,

Two horses viewed the world outside

And longed to be set free.

They did not realize the fence

Secured their freedom right

To eat, to drink, to rest, to run,

To their young hearts' delight.

With wild abandonment they ran

Into the countryside,

Excited by the strange new sights

The pasture fence denied.

Before the evening sun had set,

Both horses lay stone dead.

The freedom they thought led to joy,

Took life from them instead.

They tried to cross a busy road,

A large truck could not stop;

Its driver saw them side by side

Impact his truck and drop.

Though love for freedom is inborn,

It dare not have free rein.

Unguided freedom always leads

To tragedy and pain.

No freedom can be had for free,

There is a price to pay--

For man it is obeying laws

At work, at home, at play.

True freedom that is ultimate

Is that blest liberty

God offers us through His dear Son

In Christianity.

Arthur T. Templin