To be myself

What does freedom mean to you?

Freedom is something that is precious. It seems within the psychological makeup of a human being the desire to strive to be free but also to take away another’s freedom.

We are selfish creatures with that innate longing to be in control, to survive, and to be the best. It is a drive deep within the heart. That instinct to survive and to thrive. Frankly, there is nothing wrong with that but not at the expense of others.

This is where slavery becomes a thing of reality. It is the oppression of others both psycholocally as well as physically. It does not always mean  people are hoarded into camps or pressed to do labor, then brutalized physically. There is another form of slavery that is so  subtle, and it too is abusive.

It is the manipulation of another person. It is the stealing of their time, energy, the changing of their desires, squelching of ideas, and creativity into nothingness.

These are all examples of grabbing someone’s freedom and shaping it  into a different entity and therefore locking away someone’s true self.

To think on my own. To express my desires. To take my time in doing what I love to do and not worry about failure or wasting opportunities. To smile when I want to smile. To laugh out loud at my own jokes. To breathe life into my ideas.

And to love my Lord with all my heart is all my freedom.

I am myself when I get to be myself.

I am then very free.