Food for Thought: What Imprisons You?

The Accademia Gallery in Florence, Italy houses Michelangelo's statue of King David.  People wait for hours to catch a glimpse of this masterpiece, which was created half a millennium ago.  On their journey to the featured exhibit, tourists pass a number of unfinished statues known as Prisoners.  The Hall of Prisoners displays works that Michelangelo never completed.  Erupting from the marble you can see a hand, or a torso, a leg, or the beginnings of a head.  It looks as if the rock is holding some unfortunate being captive.  The magnificently completed sculpture of David is just beyond the wall, but these statues are forever encased in stone.  Strongholds make us feel like we're permanently imprisoned, but the divine power of Christ can demolish every stronghold and set us free (2 Corinthians 10:4). Soul Print, Mark Batterson, 2011, p.11

 I have been interested in Michelangelo since junior high when my art teacher assigned us each to write a 1000-word theme about a famous artist. I chose Michelangelo.  I must have gone to the library and read about him and in the process saw pictures of his work and became a fan for life.  It is hard not to admire the sheer volume and perfection of the work of this painter, sculptor, architect and poet of the High Renaissance.

When I saw his paintings in the Sistine Chapel in Rome, the other statues there and his statue of David, as well as the Prisoners blocks in Florence, I was astounded!  The article above calls them “unfinished works”, but it is my belief that Michelangelo saw the so-called unfinished pieces as complete.  I think he left them as they are on purpose.  He is quoted as saying: “Every block of stone has a statue inside it, and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it.”  He also said: “I saw an angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.”   I think he realized that people tend to imprison themselves. To help us experience that he left the “figures” inside the stone, perpetually trying to escape.

Michelangelo was a man of God, but even he knew that he was imprisoned by his popularity.  We too can fall prey to our obsessions or anything or action that keeps us from doing God’s will.  Galatians 5:1 tell us: “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.  Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”  What might be keeping you enslaved or imprisoned?