I wrote this simple poem around 2003. It was a season of profound transition and hurt brought about by a most unexpected disappointment. In a desperate attempt to reconcile my failures with faith, I was pushed to consider Jesus in a way I never had before. The poem become a psalm of personal reflection clinging to the hope that despite all my imperfection I wasn’t lost on Christ, the embodiment of Love and only One capable of setting me free.
Lately I’ve been wandering
Why You came to rescue me
From this life I have made
And my waves of restless peace
My life is so off course
What is it that You find
That You would come for me
To save me from a heart
So darkened by my pride
That You would leave everything behind
Lately I’ve been wandering
Why You would die for me
To give up beauty indescribable
Just to set me free
My life is so off course
What is it that You find
That You would come for me
To save me from a heart
So darkened by my pride
That You would leave everything behind
Brighter than the sunlight on a hot summers day
Cooler than the autumn breeze that could take my breath away
Higher than the farthest star any eye could ever see
Is the Love that came to this world
And He came to set us free
Oh this love
God’s love
Has come to set us free.
~ Fred Liggin, 2003
Below is a musical recording of the poem. Me (guitar and vocals) and my extraordinarily talented friend Simon (guitar and vocals) recorded it at least 15 years ago. We used to play quite a bit together. Although years and miles have separated us, his friendship has left an indelible mark on my life.*
*Words by Fred Liggin, Music by Fred Liggin & Simon Sakatos
Fred came to serve greater Williamsburg and WCC as lead pastor in October of 2010 and is grateful to be a part of the family. He is a husband, father, certified trauma professional, S.T.A.R. (strategies for trauma awareness & resilience) practitioner, community organizer, TEDx alum, founder of 3e Restoration, Inc. and co-owner of Philoxenia Culture LLC. He received his B.S. in Ministry/Bible at Amridge University and his Master’s of Religious Education in Missional Leadership from Rochester University. Currently he is a candidate for a Doctorate of Ministry in Contextual Theology in at Northern Seminary in Chicago. Fred has also served as an adjunct professor for Rochester University and Regent University where taught courses in philosophy, ethics, leadership, pastoral care, intro to Christianity, and ethnography. He has also served as a guest lecturer on the subjects of racialized cultural systems, poverty, and missiology at various universities, such as William & Mary and Oklahoma Christian University. Fred has authored on book (Racialized Cultural Systems, Social Displacement and Christian Hospitality) and several curriculum offerings, including The FloorPlan: Living Toward Restoration & Resilience.
Fred enjoys hanging out with his family anytime, anywhere. He is deeply grateful for how God graciously works through the Church in all her various forms, despite our brokenness. He is passionate about seeing the last, least, and lonely of every neighborhood, city and nation experience God’s in-breaking kingdom, and come to know Jesus as King. Oh, and his favorite season is Advent and Christmas.
Fred is a founding member of the board of directors for Virginia Racial Healing Institute, a member of the leadership team for Williamsburg's local chapter of Coming to the Table, and a member of Greater Williamsburg Trauma-Informed Community Network's Racial Trauma Committee and Training Committee.
Through Orange Colored Glasses
My dearest mentor, friend, brother, pastor, activist and example. Read it. You won’t be sorry that you did.
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Thanks for sharing Pastor Fred. Thought provoking poem.
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I was singing along with the harmony like it was yesterday…😉
Cheers brother…🍻
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