Freedom

“I want to be free!” My sixth graders, long ago, discussed what the school would look like if they were totally free. They wrote their definitions of freedom concentrating on re-doing the menu in the lunch room, not having to ‘line up’ to go to lunch or the rest room or to recess, not having to do homework or have rules to obey in the classroom. They wanted freedom in their immediate realm.

As they expressed their ideas, I asked some questions about what their idea of freedom would look like. I learned as much as they did about the concept of freedom. Inter-related concepts of responsibility came in to it. I remembered thinking the same things they were expressing as I grew up. I loved the feel of wind in my hair, singing as I walked or sang at the edge of twilight or reading an entrancing story.

One of the most enlightening truisms of life is that we always have a fence around us. A responsibility to obey. As I grew up, I learned to mind my parents and the school rules. Then college rules. In marriage, I considered my dear husband’s thoughts and wishes. In teaching, I had many rules to follow in the school system. One day I realized that above all, God has set out His commands to follow as a safeguard with no loopholes, just love and forgiveness. Then came the realization of this scripture: Before a word is on my tongue- you, LORD, know it completely. 
You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Psalm 139:4-6

Suddenly I realized that being hemmed in is a security – a guard — a protection from the unknown and the Evil One. One quote by Rainer Maria Rilke reminds us – “The only journey is the journey within.” How true, freedom is longed for, and is ours when we learn obedience within and its discipline molds our life.

In a discussion with a wise man recently, he proposed that what motivates obedience is to live within the guidelines God has given us. We came to the conclusion that lasting motivation is love and forgiveness, not fear and compulsion. Threats toward others do not elicit willing obedience while choosing to obey has long-lasting implications from generation to generation. One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts. Psalm 145:4

Choosing to obey has more intrinsic rewards than forcing obedience through fear. One sixth grade class surprised me on Valentine’s day with a huge blue heart-shaped box of chocolates. They then insisted on a valentine parade through the small school. Now I know that they chose to honor me because they understood they were ‘safe’ in our classroom. It must have begun in September, when I opened a desk drawer and pulled out the rubber sole of a tennis shoe belonging to the former teacher. I asked what it was. The students related that it was his paddle. I threw away that sole in the trash.

That experience pointed out the by-product of obedience on the way to freedom is peace.

What gives us peace? A simple explanation is ridding one’s self of sin. When a dear friend of mine came up out of the water of baptism, she told me she felt peace most of all. One of my favorite verses tells us of that peace. When I was a child, I heard a lady sing in a deep contralto voice about peace, before I knew what contralto was. When she sang, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you”…. The words rode on her deep tones that traveled deep into my heart.

Peace. And how does this peace work? John 14:27 – Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

What does this peace give us? Freedom from anxiety or what might have been, what will be and what is. Freedom rests on foundation of obedience to the One and Only who only asks for faithfulness. Every moment of every day, I rejoice in God for giving his only Son to make it possible for a relationship with God, A relationship that leads to an everlasting life where our traits will be as His traits – love, joy, peace, patience, faithfulness, goodness, kindness and self- control. (Galatians 5:22-23)

Can you imagine an everlasting life there no one has to be politically correct? Can you imagine a place where everyone is filled with the God-traits? Can you imagine a place where there is acceptance for all and praise is true and there is no fear, no death or crying? This is Heaven. This is the true Freedom that is awaiting us.

God is our peace, He is our joy, He is our freedom.

“The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.”’ Numbers 6:24-26