FREEDOM

This is such a wonderful word. Conjures so many great images. And we each have our own concept of what it means to be free.

The problem is if in our quest for freedom we end up in some prison then is it really being free? I think the answer if obvious, but it doesn't keep us from being ensnared in some many ways.

Which is going to be a reality in life in some arenas. How many of us will have the freedom for example in terms of our finances.

Unless we are someone blessed with an inheritance or other means, we will have to spend our lives working. This is a part of life that I think was intended. We do need that kind of purpose and appreciation of how life is not a blessing that we should ever take for granted.

So that means we will all have to spend a fair amount of a given day at some job. It doesn't matter if we like the job, we will have to do it if we want an income.

And we may have some choice in the type of job, hopefully one we truly enjoy, but if not, we still will need that income. A simple reality that we all understand.

It is so easy in such situations to feel trapped. To look at the window of our place of employment and feel a nice to sigh.

Then the mind can wander to one of many places where we have so many regrets, the job bears down on us and everything just bothers us. The more we fall prey to such feelings the less we are able to savor what joy can come from the situation.

I always found it interesting how some are inclined to think the solution to being a perfect Christian is when you are serving in full time Christian ministry. As if one truly isn't called of the Lord unless you can escape what the rest of us must endure.

Underlying motives can be the real and honest desire to serve the lord, or it can be just a means of escape. Both can seem the same at first glance.

The reality is that freedom truly does flow from within. It resides in our soul. And if we see the Lord as our keeper who can chain our lives?

A question we can each answer according to our own desires and thoughts. But it is the joy that comes when we can smile between the ticks of the time clock for it doesn't control our heart beat.

Which is how we can still cling to the moments when demands rule and still have wings. That is part of what happens more when we have eyes looking towards eternity rather than the next paycheck.