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\u201cThere is nothing more desirable than to be free from suffering, but nothing is more dreadful than to be free from crutches\u201d (James Baldwin).<\/p>\n
Freedom, properly defined, is a state worth striving for, but clearly, it requires more courage and integrity than we have now. As Baldwin suggests, it is easy to wish “to be free from any suffering,” but “there is nothing more dreadful than to be deprived of a crutch.” Freedom involves not only a pleasant freedom but also a serious responsibility.<\/p>\n
A popular misconception about independence is that it means complete self-reliance, without needing to depend on anyone else for anything. But if this is what freedom is, none of us will ever experience it. In the real world, no one is self-sufficient, and we need the humility to accept this fact. If we can’t see how many times in the past we have had to seek help from other people, we are either blind egoists or blinded by ego. Like it or not, we all have needs that cannot be met by the unaided work of our own hands.<\/p>\n
Another misconception is that independence means complete autonomy or self-rule. But still, this kind of freedom is impossible in the real world. If we are looking for a life in which we do not have to submit to the authority of another person in any role or relationship, we will probably be looking for it for a long time. In many different relationships that we find ourselves participating in, sometimes we have to lead and sometimes we have to follow. Truly independent people have the ability to lead as well as follow.<\/p>\n
the simple meaning of freedom Taking personal responsibility for your life.<\/em> As we move beyond dependency, we stop expecting others to hand us happiness on a silver platter, and we begin to pay more attention to our character than our external circumstances. This kind of freedom is a big step in the right direction for us. And yet, as desirable as freedom is, and as preferable to unhealthy dependence, freedom is not Summary Bonus<\/em> Of life. Tomorrow we will talk about an even higher goal.<\/p>\n “True freedom of character gives us the power to act rather than be acted upon. It frees us from our dependence on circumstances and other people and is a worthy, liberating goal. But it is not the ultimate goal in effective living” (Stephen R. Covey).<\/p>\n Gary Henry – WordPoints.com AreYouaChristian.com<\/a><\/p>\n