Freedom

Freedom

By Paul Yoder on Friday, July 3, 2020

Reprint from blog.

Is it just me, or do other people sometimes feel a twinge of sadness as they look at a dog and think about what these animals have become? I like to think that dogs are descended from wolves. To me, a wolf is the epitome of an animal living wild and free, yielding to nothing and to no one. They survive by their wits and toughness, starving in the famines and suffering in the harsh northern winters, but with never a thought of giving up their wild freedom for the comfort and security of a domesticated life.

Dogs are deservedly known as man’s best friend, affectionate and loyal. We love dogs, and they love us, but little do they know that generations ago, their ancestors lived wild and free like wolves. Perhaps it was during a famine or other hard time that a hungry dog or two crept into the presence of humans and took some food. Or perhaps it was lured in by the warmth and comfort of a fire on a freezing night.

Wherever it started, dogs have over many generations lost the ability to survive on their own. They depend on us for food and shelter, with many of them even living indoors with us, standing on the back of the couch and looking out the window as the world passes by. Some have even less freedom, trapped in a small kennel or in a dog box while their owner is at work. These poor creatures aren’t even able to eat or a drink or use the potty until their master comes home. The dog loves and appreciates the owner who cares for it, not understanding that it was the master who took away the dog’s ability to survive on its own and made it dependent on the master for everything.

We hear a lot about freedom lately in the news and on social media. People are alarmed and speaking out about what they perceive as a loss of freedom in America. You see, freedom is usually lost incrementally rather than all at once. We give up a little freedom for a little bit of safety, comfort, or convenience. It doesn’t seem like a big deal, but as the years pass and we keep repeating that process, we eventually find that we’re no longer free. We’ve traded our freedom for comfort, security, and convenience.

By the time we reach that stage, we may be so used to it that we don’t even realize we’re no longer free. Just like our pet dogs, we may be happy and even think we like our condition. And yet, there’s a tinge of sadness because just like dogs, humans were created to be free. We’re not meant to prisoners or slaves who are told what to do, when to do it, where to live, and where to work. We weren’t meant to spend our lives paying bills and taxes. A person may be satisfied enough living in that state, but the spirit will never truly be free, and that is sad.

This is not just a political post. After all, we can also lose our freedom without the government being involved.

Let’s look at another scenario; Jane grows up in a loving home. She’s happy, well adjusted, free-spirited, living with a song on her lips, a light in eyes, and a smile on her face. Jane grows up and marries Bill. After they’re married, she gets some unpleasant surprises. Bill has anger issues. He has high expectations for his woman. Jane can never quite please him. She never measures up to his expectations even though she tries her hardest.

When she fails in some minor way to fulfill Bill’s expectations, his anger flares up, harsh words are spoken, and he inflicts emotional and even physical abuse on her. Without her realizing it, Jane’s life has become consumed with pleasing Bill, keeping the anger at bay, trying to measure up and earn his approval. Slowly but surely, the song on her lips become less frequent, the light in her eyes dies out, and her spirit withers and fades.

Jane is in prison—a prison with walls that were slowly built around her. She is confused by the bewildering mixture of kindness and evil. She is vaguely aware that something is wrong, but is not sure what it is or how to explain it. She feels heavy in her spirit, and a cloud seems to be hanging over her all the time. Joy and happiness are slowly replaced with a dreary effort to just get through the day. No one outside the family knows about the problems Jane is dealing with. Some of her friends notice that she seems to have changed, but they can’t really define it. They just know she’s different and something doesn’t seem quite right. 

Let’s think of another scenario; as a young Amish boy, I longed for freedom. I wanted less rules, the freedom to do as I pleased. I chafed under the rules and expectations of the rigid lifestyle we lived in. We were taught that freedom was wrong, that the desire for freedom must be stifled and repented of. Security was what mattered, we were assured. We could find safety and security under the authority of our leaders. People’s spirits wither and die in those environments. The happy, free spirit of a child is replaced with a measured, calculating demeanor as they learn to escape notice to avoid getting in trouble. The youth become sullen and resentful, not daring to speak about their struggles, their desires, or their dreams.

In all three of the scenarios I presented, the people have lost their freedom. Their spirit has wilted and died, but they don’t even realize it. Perhaps there’s a vague recognition that something is wrong, but it’s a cloudy, foggy feeling.

A prisoner in a cell longs to be free and thinks the happiest day of his life will be when he walks out of that prison. No doubt walking out of the cell for the last time would be a joyous occasion, but that prisoner could walk out a free man and still be in bondage inside. An Amish person can leave all those rules behind and be free to do what they wish, and yet never discover the secret to true freedom.

So what is freedom? Is it the ability to do anything we want whenever we want? Is that freedom? What if our quest for freedom causes suffering to people around us? Is that freedom? Is it defined by not having any rules or laws that limit our actions? Is freedom having all the money that we want?

While some external things can give us a measure of freedom and should be enjoyed, true freedom is more than that.  Freedom lies within us. The prisoner in his cell has the keys to freedom inside him; the wife in an abusive marriage has the keys to freedom inside her; the Amish kid growing up has the keys to freedom.

The wife of an abusive husband may need to escape her situation, yet the journey to real freedom ultimately must come from within. The Amish person may need to leave that system so they can grow and bloom in their life, and yet, they need to grasp those internal keys and recognize that true freedom comes from within. If we’re free on the inside, the external things lose their power to enslave and control us because there is a Spirit of life inside us if we can only find the wherewithal to tap into it.

 ^“A bruised reed He will not break, and a dimly burning wick He will not quench; He will bring forth justice in truth.” (Isaiah 42:3 Amplified Bible)

True freedom lies in recognizing that our Creator is the giver of life and freedom. The God of heaven is full of grace and mercy; never will He crush the soul that is struggling hard, the spirit that’s been imprisoned, the spirit that has been suffocated by the dark cloud of abuse and totalitarianism. The person who is overwhelmed with loneliness, fear, and confusion needs only to realize that the keys to life were planted inside their own heart by their Creator.

A free spirit does not depend only on outward circumstances. Rather, it’s a journey of the heart and spirit that all of us are on, including me. We all may be at different points in the journey with varying levels of freedom. We take a step forward, and sometimes we slide backwards. Freedom can look scary and make us shrink back into the comfort and familiarity of our bondage, but when that happens, just remember: your Creator will not crush a broken spirit. Though your candle of life and hope may be burning low, He will not snuff it out or abandon you. 

Once you have freedom, you will learn that the free spirit in your heart will empower you to step forth boldly and escape the bondages that are enslaving you, whether that’s a poisonous relationship, a religious system, or even a job where you sacrificed your integrity for the security of a paycheck. Perhaps your bondage is one of addictions and bad habits developed over a lifetime. No matter how difficult your journey, never forget that the keys to freedom lie within you.