The Problem with Freedom

The problem with freedom is that it rids us of excuse, and in the absence of excuse lies responsibility. My faith -my life will be what I make it. I know of nothing more terrifying.

I think the idea of reaping what you sow is lost on a generation that can so easily go to the grocery store. I've been guilty of trying to buy faith with tithe and church attendance. It seems easier to do than be. While we're talking about freedom I feel like I should mention that I love America. It seems to me that if your a Christian living in America you probably have more freedom than you know what to do with. It seems that every brand of freedom has a price. To date my freedom comes at a price of over 650 thousand American soldiers and one perfect lamb of God. God forgive me for ever taking that for granted. (If your in the military or ever have been and have stumbled across this blog, thank you). Wow, I just got really off topic. I'm not sure now where I was going, but I think what I was trying to get at is that instead of working at my faith I've been hiding in my past - behind my pain.

I'm beginning to think that I fear freedom more than pain. I think I've been relieved to have a reason for the brokenness. An excuse to be less than I what I've been called to be. I've heard, read, and thought a lot about forgiveness lately. The problem with forgiveness is it frees us from our past. As I begin to embrace God's forgiveness I can feel the shackles of past sin fall away. As it turns out, I can't embrace the forgiveness of Christ without being changed by the reality of grace. As I accept forgiveness I learn to forgive. This has proven to be an inconvenient lesson. Its nice to not be burdened by the past. It sucks to not be able to use it as a crutch. Before I can run without burden I must learn to walk without aid.

I'm rambling, and probably not making any sense. I heard a song I haven't heard in a long time this week and its become the soundtrack of this way of thinking for me this week. I'm obviously not going to be able to make a point here so I'm going to leave you with the song and hope it hits you the way it hit me.

If ever you are feeling like your tired
and all your uphill struggles leave you headed downhill
if you realize your wildest dreams can hurt you
and your appetite for pain has drinken its fill
I ask of you a very simple question
did you think for one minute that you are alone?
and is your suffering a privilege you share only?
or did you think that everybody else feels completely at home?

Just Wait..........Just Wait...........Just Wait.......And It Will Come

if you think I've given up on you,your crazy
and if you think I don't love you well then your just wrong
in time you just might take to feeling better
Time is the beauty of the road being long
I know that now you feel no consolation
but maybe if I told you and informed you out loud
I say this without fear of hesitation
I can honestly tell you that you make me proud

Just Wait..........Just Wait...........Just Wait.......And It Will Come

if anything I might've just said has helped you
if anything I might've said helped you just carry on
your rise uphill may no longer seem a struggle
and your appetite for pain may all but be gone
I hope for you and cannot stop at hoping
until that smile has once again returned to your face
there's no such thing as a failure who keeps trying
coasting to the bottom is the only disgrace
-Blues Traveler-