Freedom

For all the rhetoric in England and in the US about freedom – having, keeping, and defending – it appears we have lost our ability to see, comprehend, and appreciate the very thing we sacrifice so much for.  Today is a bright, sunny, summer day in New York.  Nothing is especially different.  The Yankees are struggling to make the play-offs, basketball is in the off-season, American football is in pre-season mode, and real football is off to a lucky start at the Bridge.  Everywhere you look there is opportunity.  People, especially those under the age of twenty-five, can see, feel, and at times taste the excitement that makes London and New York the great cities that they are.  Freedom is an essential element of this excitement.
 
In the midst of this new birth I find a disturbing undercurrent.  It is as if those of us who are older have lost our souls along the way.  Far too many “issues” and “troubles” are taking over our lives.  We struggle to survive.  We fight to live.  At times there doesn’t seem to be enough room, enough order, and enough discipline to keep things in order!
 
Freedom was, is, and always will be a choice.  Freedom isn’t somebody else’s choice.  Freedom is your choice and mine. 
 
We don’t have to left life overwhelm us, we can choose something different.  Even when the obvious seems fait accompli, we have a choice.
 
When questioned by Pilate, Jesus chose freedom.  Pilate was clearly puzzled.  “You won't talk?  Don't you know that I have the authority to pardon you, and the authority to—crucify you?” (John 19.10)
 
When life claims its right over our lives – troubles, pain, and anguish overwhelm and dominate everything in our lives – we still have freedom.  We can give it away but nobody can take it.  We can choose whatever we want to choose.  Junk, really bad stuff, can and will come our way.  Our response is the heart of our freedom.  Today I choose to love, give mercy, and delivery compassion.  I am a freedom man.  I love being free.