Freedom

"It is for freedom that Christ has set you free."

These words are included in the modern day Bible in Galations. What was the author talking about?

Many people in recent interpretation of the Bible think of heaven as a future place or state that happens after we die. But what if heaven could be a reality now?

These two perspectives on heaven then yield two very different perspectives on these words about freedom. Is freedom just something to imagine in some future state of affairs? Or is freedom something you can have now? Paul talked about freedom, but also being set free. This implies that we have been restricted previously and there was a change of status.

Honestly, I don't know very many people living freely, which makes this very intriguing and a potent invitation. Why aren't people living freely? I think people live freely when they believe they can. So most of us must not believe we can live freely. Why?

Well, personally, I think I am scared of freedom. I think of phrases like FOMO and opportunity cost. Making decisions can sometimes paralyze me. I want so much to make the right decision. But what is my "right" based on? When I consider freedom, there must be many right answers. This is somewhat where I find myself now, because then it's less about what is right and more - what do I want. And, wow, is that hard! Then I have to know myself. This is really hard for me because for so much of my life I have just been trying to do it right - to do what's expected of me, to fit in, to be normal, to be good. These are the messages that I have practiced over and over. These are what created fences around what I think is possible. 

To use even stronger language, they create prisons. prisons that I need to be set free from. Technically I have been free all along, but I haven't known it. The prisons I grew up in were my home. I never realized I could walk through the open door to wider spaces. I never knew I could tear down the wall. Instead I acquired plants and hung things on the wall trying to beautify and be comfier in my confinement.

Every now and then I would meet someone free and I would be so amazed and perplexed by this human. How did they do it? Could I do it too? Their lives seemed so far from mine. The chasm between my world view and theirs seemed too great. I didn't see a path to their perspective, but I did feel envious and it did awaken in me a curiosity. I became curious over the decades if I too could have the freedom they seemed to revel in. I had to look beyond my immediate surroundings because I didn't have a freedom mentor nearby in my family, peer group, or community. These infrequent freedom persons served as beacons way off in the distance.  The encounters were so infrequent were that I would forget about their existence for periods of time.

Like those around me, I grew to take comfort in my prison. The prisons I was in gave me structure and simplified my days. Many of these prisons, if not self-made, were self-perpetuated. I repeatedly chose to not walk through the open door. 

Freedom brings change and unpredictability. It requires trust. This all frightens me.

I am living more free than ever, but I am in a transitional space. My therapist names it as "displaced" and that feels right. I am in between. I am in unfamiliar territory because I have made decisions that align with my values that respect my worth and thus towards greater and truer love. I am moving towards freedom, like never before, and it is scary. There is no blueprint here, but I know freedom is why I was set free. I want to live into that freedom.

• Are you aware of barriers/walls/prisons erected by others that are encircling you?

• How are you participating in your own imprisonment and denying your freedom?

• In what ways do you long to live freely?

May you always see the blessing!

-esb