"Freedom is the oxygen of the soul." -Moshe Dayan.
The above quote speaks the truth in our lives. Feeling caged and unable to be my true self, my soul seems to shrink back into itself. On the contrary, when I am free to be my true self, my soul breathes in the oxygen that gives it life. Has your soul felt caged before? Has your soul been able to breathe the oxygen of freedom?
Do you breathe oxygen freely or shrink back into yourself?
What is freedom to you? What is that breath of oxygen to your soul? I do believe there are many different answers to these questions. To Captain Jack Sparrow, it would be his ship and the ocean. His freedom lay in the absence of constraints and being able to sail wherever and do whatever he wanted. I think he would agree with Epictetus. "Is freedom anything else than the right to live as we wish? Nothing else," Epictetus stated. Probably, for most people, this is true. In this freedom, you may be able to do whatever you wish, but you don't have freedom from consequences and responsibility.
Some may think of political freedom in response to the question above. About living in a country where they are free to prosper and are guaranteed rights. In the United States of America, we have the Bill of Rights that grants us specific freedoms in our country. The Right of Free Speech, the Right to Bear Arms, the Right to Trial by Jury, Freedom of Religion, and more are guaranteed in the Bill of Rights. My gratefulness for our freedoms in this country fuels my desire to preserve them for future generations. Our country is not perfect, but with these freedoms, we can strive for a better country for everyone. Even with these freedoms, it is not where my true freedom lies.
You can have freedoms, but not be free.
Others may think of financial freedom. Richard Branson states, "Money gives you the freedom to do with your time what you want to do with it." Money does open doors for you to live as you want to. It can open doors to power. But I would argue that this is not true freedom. How many times do we see individuals, wealthy and powerful, who are not free themselves. In history, we have seen corruption and evil pour out of some of the most wealthy and powerful. Elizabeth Bathory, a Hungarian noblewoman who held her own lands in the 16th century, was a prolific serial killer. Driven by a cage to keep her beauty and youth, she killed young peasant girls and used their blood. There is no way to know exactly how many she murdered, but the estimate is between 80 to 600 young women. Elizabeth had money and power, but that didn't grant her true freedom. She was enslaved to vanity and evil.
You may feel that freedom is a state of mind. Well, we can think we are free, and dwell in a jail cell at the same time. Just because we think we are free doesn't mean we are. I have believed that some lies were absolute truths, only to find the truth out later. So, freedom is much more than our thoughts. Truth is not found in our thoughts, for we can believe lies. True freedom is only found in truth.
The truth will set you free.
Another description of freedom may be found in vocation. Whether it be writing, dance, entrepreneurship, or medicine, there are specific freedoms given. In dance and writing, the freedom to express yourself through art. In medicine, the freedom to help others in need. In entrepreneurship, the freedom to direct your own business. Freedoms are given here, but not absolute freedom.
What is freedom to me? Freedom to me is found in a person. It is not found in what I do, how much money I make, or who likes me. Jesus is my freedom. He is my freedom to learn and grow. He is my freedom to love. He is my freedom to not sin. He is my freedom from lies. He is my freedom to serve well. He is my freedom in eternity. He is my freedom in this life. He is my freedom to hope. He is my freedom to be. There are so many freedoms wrapped up in the essence of Jesus. I could list them for days.
Jesus is Freedom. He was sent to proclaim liberty.
Jesus is not a religion to me. He is my best friend. He is the one who set me free. But you have so many rules in your faith? The "rules" are guidelines on how to live freely. It is my choice to follow them or not. When I haven't followed them, I have felt more caged and trapped. When I have listened to His direction and guidance, I have never felt more alive. I felt alive because the oxygen of freedom was flowing to my soul. The oxygen of Jesus.
This is my freedom. He can never be taken from me. Through judgment, persecution, lies, betrayals, wins, joys, and triumphs, He will always be present. He cannot be separated from me. He is with me to the end. When I choose to dwell in Jesus, I dwell in Freedom.
"Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." -2 Corinthians 3:17 b
"Never will I leave you. Never will I forsake you." -Hebrews 13:5 b
"For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." -Romans 8:38-39
"....He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives...." Luke 4:18
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