Where has this story been hiding? This is a story that needed to be told, and I am grateful for Producer, Brad Pitt, for bringing it forward. I have not been this moved by a story since our recent exposure to "Son of God." (And I will write about that one also, very soon.)
It doesn't matter which side of the Political aisle you are on, or which ethnic culture you base your roots on. It is a "human" story of man's inhumanity to man. It is a story of hate and greed, survival and fear. It is a story that is repeated far too often in the history books. It is a story that sometimes gets glossed over in those same books by men (or women) who choose their sides carefully and tell a very tainted story only based upon their own perspective.
But this story...the story of Solomon, a "free man" who was kidnapped and sold into slavery...is a true story. And, I warn you that some of it is hard to watch. One single thread kept weaving itself through my brain as the story unfolded. It was the common thread of injustice. And I found myself recalling another man who was a good man, and yet hated by those who sought to destroy him. The only difference was that that man was not given a just trial nor was he set free...at least not in the sense that Solomon was set free.
Our Lord and Savior was that other man. He, too was hated and for a mere 30 pieces of silver was betrayed. He was stripped of his dignity, received many stripes before the ultimate inhumane act of nailing Him to a tree.
Ask yourself, how many times must we watch the killing, maiming, beating or just plain dastardly treatment of God's children before the human race gets the story? How many more must suffer for "30 pieces of silver" before we come to understand that we are all God's children? I don't care what color your skin is or what your ethnic background is or where you went to school or which side of the railroad tracks you grew up on. We are all brothers and sisters and until we "get it" we are going to be bombarded with more of the same.
My heart breaks for those slaves in the early history of this country. But, I fear that if we don't pull on the brakes and stop traveling down a similar path that history is going to repeat itself. Who will be America's next slaves? Who will find themselves in bondage to another evil master? Jesus Christ suffered great and unspeakable suffering in the Garden and He hung on the Cross for each and every one of us. Isn't it about time we all stop dead in our tracks and give thanks for that sacrifice made for us?
Perhaps Solomon paid an awful price with his suffering at the hands of the slave masters, but perhaps his story and many more like his were the inspiration that Lincoln felt when he fought so diligently for in freeing the slaves. Could we have done a better job? Perhaps. But, it was one of the great "tipping-points" in our American History.
Thank you, Solomon, for sharing your story.
