I finally took time to watch Sound of Freedom, the movie about child sex trafficking across the world. I had wanted to watch if for a while but was unsure at the same time.
This movie left me really broken. I knew there is child sex trafficking, we see instances in the news paper and on local and national news, but this movie brings it to you in a much different way. I got lost in the movie, feeling like I was part of it. Seeing the faces of the children and imagining what thoughts go through their minds.
I can only imagine how much pain and hopelessness these poor children endure. Then add in the physical element and its overwhelming. It really breaks my heart to know this is currently taking place.
In one scene of the movie Jim Caviezels character Tim Ballard was in a car driving through Columbia and he looks out of the window at the sunset. Immediately it came to mind how two people can look at the same sunset at the same time and it can mean something totally different to each.
I can see the sunset and see the beauty and someone else can see the same sunset while in different circumstances and never notice the beauty. The pain, torture or despair can leave them feeling numb. They may see what I see but see no beauty, no hope, nothing. And that’s the thought I had during that scene. It kind of placed me in the mind of one of those children and I imagined looking at that sunset with nothing but emptiness and despair. It brought tears to my eyes and then those tears made me feel even deeper in the thoughts of those children.
I have lived a great life, had a great childhood. I have never met someone who went through that type of ordeal, so all I can do is imagine. And the images and emotions that move brought to me was disturbing and I hope they stick with me forever. I hope that even though I never went through it, I can share in their pain and have a prayerful heart everyday for all who are sold into that devilish industry.
The movie flooded my mind with so many questions that I had to calm myself down before beginning to answer. It didn’t cause me to question my beliefs with my heart, but the flesh part of me questioned, why God would allow this? Why do people, children have to suffer through this? How can this evil exist and why is it allowed to grow bigger every single second?
I know it was a deep emotional response to a very current tragedy. I collected my thoughts and answered my questions. But it was very hard to understand. I know God has a purpose in all things, I know God is good and a God of justice. I know in this life we will endure many painful events and are not promised an easy life. So I know God hates these acts against anyone.
As I sit here I can’t help but think about children who are stolen and sold. While I rest comfortably in my home, somewhere a child is locked away in a trailer waiting to be released to an abuser. While I sit here some young little boy or girl is having not only their childhood stolen but their whole life destroyed. And if they do get rescued or make it out of the situation alive, they will never be the same.
When I go to sleep, God willing, I will wake up and go about my regular day. These children may fear sleep, and waking up only brings another day of abuse, and loneliness. Another day of torture and heartache. Another day that they probably pray for death.
I hope the people who commit these horrible crimes truly meet justice while on this earth. I hope the pain they inflict would seem like nothing compared to what they have coming when caught.
For the children, I will always remember this movie and what it did to me. And I will never stop praying that all children trapped in this nightmare will experience freedom and family again.
Parents, guard your children. Know where they are, who they are with at all times. It’s not overbearing to keep the safety and whereabouts of your children as a priority. They may see you as over protective, but at least at the end of the day they will be able to see you. Spend time with your children as well. You will see the importance of it extremely well once it’s too late. Children are a gift from the LORD, treat them as such, love them, care for them, and protect them with your life.
No King but Christ 