There's a lot of talk about redemption lately. That's not really a bad thing because typically the word represents a lot of action and reaction, usually with a positive result. The unfortunate part is that there usually needs to be a fall before there can be a redemption. This is because the spiritual concept of redemption seems to be the strongest form of the word and that tendency seems legitimate enough. To be redeemed from evil definitely seems to be of greater magnitude than redeeming a coupon for free french fries or bottlecaps for a free t-shirt.

There can be redemption without traveling to the dark recesses of life first, but it just doesn't appeal the same way. The audience would rather see a story that starts way down and finishes way up. That's well and good, but redemption is somewhat of a personal choice, regardless of who decides they want it. The difficult part to understand is whether redemption is earned or given. Is it a gift or is it a reward? Not sure about that one.

Redemption makes for a good premise for a favorite movie or a good motivation for an Olympic basketball team, but its an accomplishment best experienced by the individual in a personal manner. To feel one's own redemption must be a tremendous feeling, but it seems hard to know when it occurs. The involvement of others becomes more necessary when it's time for the story to be written and the label of redemption to be assigned.

It becomes a personal responsibility to grant redemption to others in hope that they might be there to reciprocate the action in the future. Sure, it's simply an application of the Golden Rule or something like that, but an important one.