Walking free from Prison

 

Photos courtesy of Unsplash

What a moment it must be for a prisoner when, at last, the penalty for his or her crime has been paid in full, and he or she can walk free and enjoy liberty that has been rightly denied him or her for months or years! To feel the fresh breezes of freedom and know that not another moment will be spent behind bars!

Conversely, what a horrendous moment it must be when, after examining the evidence presented, a verdict is reached, guilt is established, and the sentence is passed! It may mean a long term in prison, deprived of freedom, or in some countries, the death penalty may be the fearful price to pay. Even in our lax society, where standards have dropped alarmingly, it is recognised that certain crimes merit severe punishment.

The discovery of an ancient door

If you were being chased by a vicious dog and you saw an open door, what would you do? I am sure that you would, like me, take the route to safety through the open door.

If you were lost in a long dark tunnel and finally you saw the light of an open door, what would you do? The answer is obvious. Entering through the door into the sunlight would be a huge relief. On an ordinary day, when life is routine, we take doors for granted. 

In the past couple of years a remarkable door was discovered, despite the fact that no one was looking for it. In Switzerland work was underway to construct a large car parking near the Zurich Opera House. Excavations dug-up and uncovered an incredible find – an ancient door. They say it was incredibly well preserved. Archaeologists believe it to be one of the oldest doors ever to be found in Europe. The ancient door is about 1.5 metres high, the planks are made of poplar wood and held together by a ‘remarkable system’.  The door is ‘solid and elegant’ – a clever design which even looks good. Even the wooden handles are preserved. Based on counting tree rings to determine its age, the door was constructed in 3,063BC.