The Danger of Being Comfortable

Hope & The Shawshank Redemption

“Some birds aren’t meant to be caged.”

– The Shawshank Redemption

Have you ever seen the film, “The Shawshank Redemption?”

It’s brilliant…one of my all-time favourite movies. Based on Stephen King’s novella, Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption, the 1994 film was written and directed by Frank Darabont and starred Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins.

Tim Robbins’ character, Andy Dufrense, is an innocent man accused of murder and sentenced to life. The character played by Morgan Freeman is a seasoned lifer who takes Andy under his wing and teaches him the ropes of prison life.

I’ve seen the film a few times over the years. What struck me the most, the last time I watched it, was the scene where Andy locks a prison guard in the bathroom so he could play a record of two women singing opera — over the prison loudspeaker.

As we hear the hauntingly beautiful song and see the surprised (but clearly moved) reaction of various prisoners, the voiceover of Morgan Freeman’s character says:

“I have no idea to this day what those two Italian ladies were singing about. Truth is…I…