Freedom

Many of us, you and I specifically, live in societies that treasure and respect freedom.  We spend extraordinary amounts of money to build and defend freedom.  We willingly sacrifice life itself in freedom's defense.
As important as freedom is, I am forever puzzled at how we, you and I, exercise freedom. We demand freedom.  We crave, lust, and covet freedom.  We also willingly give up our freedom to the god of self.  We blame others for the results of our hands.  We hold God to account for the bad outcomes of when we exercise freedom.  We want freedom, but we are not accountable.  Blame, damnation, and accountability applies to anyone but those we love, communities we live in, and especially our souls. 
We seem to want a paradoxical freedom.  Let a god of self run wild, while the God of compassion and love is ultimately accountable for our choices, decisions, and actions.  When we let others run wild, drunk drivers, despots exploiting and using the helpful in some far off country, it is God that should be accountable, not us!  Even our choices are the result of giving up our freedom to choose.  The gods here are the latest help book, a charismatic leader, or even an influential person in our live.
Whatever this is, it is not freedom to me.  I need more than that!  I need a God that holds me to account.  I need a God that will give me more than what exists, not less.  I need a God that adamantly believes and upholds freedom.
In this context, I hear God's voice as a sound of truth.  “'Get on your knees and pray that I will be gracious to you.  You priests have gotten everyone in trouble.  With this kind of conduct, do you think I'll pay attention to you?'  God-of-the-Angel-Armies asks you.”  (Malachi 1.9) 
God asks and I already know the answer.  Yes, God you will pay attention.  In my turning to you, I find you have already turned to me.  It is an incredible gift.  It is available to each.