What It Means to Be Free

We live in a free country.  Most of us have, all of our lives.  But how often do we stop to appreciate what that really means?  Here are a few thoughts on that:

First and foremost, it means that we can live life on our own terms.  We can ask, "What do I want to do with my life?  Do I want to make a difference in being here, and if so, in what way or ways?"  Many women will ask, "Do I want marriage, a demanding career, or both?"  More importantly, we are free to act on fulfilling those highly important personal issues. 

Being free also enables us to think independently.  "Am I a liberal, believing that above all our government should care for all its people, providing them a high quality of life, regardless of their circumstances?  Or am I basically a conservative, believing that a nation's strength and strength of character depend on expecting and sometimes requiring all of its people to take responsibility for providing for themselves and their dependents, regardless of their circumstances?  Or, am I something in between?"  I believe most of us are the last.  Former President George W. Bush had a compelling goal with his slogan "compassionate conservative."  The difficulty in following that comes in knowing how to choose and where to act on that. 

Living free means having the opportunity to be at peace with yourself, if you so choose.  So much of happiness in life depends on the choices we make, or don't make.  Not that that is easy.  Sometimes, acting in advance, we don't know what the outcome will be.  That's where freedom is especially important. It gives us room to change what we don't like or what doesn't work well for us.  Room not only to make mistakes but to correct them, to the best of our abilities.  And above all, to choose to follow the God who gives us the peace that passes all understanding. 

Happy to be free, and enjoying the privilege with you,

Margaret