Loss of freedom

January 26, 2013

Go back in history with me to a tiny island of the coast of West Africa, Cape Verd. Imagine being trapped like a rat, whipped, bound, put in a cage and sold like a piece of lumber, or a slab of beef. Stolen from family, heritage, and all that ever was, transported thousands of miles in cages just above the bilges of feted ships; then put on display at slave auctions to be used by those who would become their owners. They and their posterity were to go on for generations, considered subhuman chattel.

These people were children of our Heavenly Father. They loved, learned, lived, and were in every way part of that great experiment called the United States of America. After generations they were released from their status as slaves and reunited with their God given freedoms. Most African-Americans, or Blacks continue watching, waiting, and praying that the great strides taken by all humanity will continue and that this great country will provide these blessings for generations to come.

Unfortunately, many have sold their freedom and voluntarily become enslaved and degenerated from free, resourceful, caring individuals to total and complete slavery. Those who have sold themselves are multitudinous, but I want to take you on a visit with one I will call Laura, because that is her real name. I met her through Nextep Living as she asked to be one of those who would reside in a safe house Nextep set up for individuals wishing to break from their shackles and return to freedom’s embrace. She was, no doubt, one of the brightest persons I have ever met, with a zest for life, for creating beauty in the world, and for helping to bless the lives of others. She was the last of many Nextep assisted and had only been in one of our safe houses about one week when the whole system collapsed and we were forced by legal complications to push ladies and children to move.

Laura was a great source of strength as she worked with us in talking to the police, to the press, and to Mayor Washburn and City Manager Jim Reams of Orem. Laura had been heavily involved in drugs, sexual exploits, and many illegal activities prior to her stay with us. Before her healing could become engrained in her spiritual and mental person through Nextep, she was forced into a situation where she was evicted, broke in, remained in the home climbing through an unlocked window to enter and remain. Her very addicted boy friend found her, moved in, and instantly dragged her back to the pit she had worked so hard to escape. Yes, she was once more enslaved by the demons that had plagued her. After doing significant damage to the home, my reputation, her three cats and two litters of kittens, and most importantly – her life – she was evicted, the cats forcibly removed by police, moved to Shady Wood and on to more life in the shackles of slavery.

The question of personal choice is emblazoned on the billboards of life. Can we really avoid slavery? What can we do when we find ourselves trapped in the horrible terror of knowing that we have sold our integrity, our spirituality, our love of life and family, and every good thing we have ever known, for the enticements of liquor, drugs, pornography, riches, lies and self deception, “white collar” crime, or any of a million other tools of Satan? How can we avoid getting into these precarious situations in the first place?

I am not really sure I know the answers; however, as I continue on this venture to better understand slavery in its very divergent forms, I will attempt to find these answers. To those like Laura I will never stop searching for answers; then, hoping and praying for those who have been turned to this depraved state of life. I am absolutely, positively sure that God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost play the most significant role in our safe passage through life.

God bless you as you continue to enjoy the blessings of freedom in God’s vineyard.

Duane Jacobs, Father, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin, and fond friend