Freedom?

The ringing alarm clock ended the vital sleep that proved insufficient to revitalize me. As I pursued my tasks, I pondered those words from my bulletin board: "Work will set you free; in the sweat of your face shall you be liberated!" Even for me, those words hold a certain irony. I understand well the history of the first five words of the phase. What started as a Protestant work ethic slogan later became a familiar phrase on the gates of Nazi camps during the past century! What were the Nazis trying to tell their captives? Perhaps the words were meant to instill false hope of future freedom, or perhaps they were but a subtle reminder that overwork would eventually liberate some of them--through death. Whatever the meaning of those words, a sinister connotation lingers around them even today. However, when I use those words to greet a certain friend of mine, he perceives them as an encouragement to continue pressing toward the goal. Whether spoken in the middle of a dismal day, or after a week of overtime, contemplating liberation through work continues to lift my spirits. Just what is this liberation I speak of? This liberation comes only from work; it is a sense of worth resulting from an individual's efforts to accomplish something significant. The significance need not be recognized by the individual himself, however when one does perceive the significance of his labor, even greater satisfaction results.

By the sweat of your face
Shall your liberation come,
Shall your liberation come.
Then you will know
That you are free,
Because you see,
Work really makes one free,
Really, really free.
Liberation has come.
Work liberates!