November 2nd

Called to Freedom

            For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another.  For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.

Galatians 5:13-15

            We were born to be free.  We were made to be free.  We were called to be free.  God intended for us to live in complete control of our actions and responses.  That is freedom: the ability to choose what path we will follow in this life, unencumbered by the burdens and shackles and passions that drive us to destruction.  We are made to be free of childhood traumas that leave us stuck in self-destructive cycles.  We are made to be free of lusts for power and control and money and sex.  We are made to be free of fear…not just the kind that drives us to fight or flight, but also the kind that drives us to hatred and oppression and gluttony and apathy and pushing others away.  Most of this world…most of the people around us…they are just reacting.  They are being driven by internal traumas and fears and lusts and desires and they are blindly following wherever their urges are taking them.

            Paul’s encouragement is to step into the freedom that we are offered.  Do not be driven by fear.  Do not be driven by bitterness.  Do not be driven by lust.  Be free of all those things and then choose to love those around us.  Not because of duty or because you want to manipulate the situation or because you need something from the person.  Pour yourself out and love those around you because that is how you choose to spend this life and you realize that there is no better pursuit available to us.

            My parenting has been driven by all sorts of things:

·         I have deep, life-long insecurities about my ability to do things right; I am certain that I am going to fail and disappoint my loved ones and prove that I am unworthy of their love.  I hid from projects and adventures in parenting so that I would not fail in them.

·         I am ultra-competitive and desperately want to be the best at everything.  I have sacrificed relationships in order to win and become frustrated with my son when he did not share the same qualities.

·         I am terrified of my emotions and frequently stuff them away which creates more distance from those I love.

·         I often choose hopelessness which leads to me expecting the worst out of people and often results in a self-fulfilling prophecy of ending up alone.

These have driven me throughout the years.  They have controlled what I ran towards and what I ran away from and how I interacted with my family.

            My very best parenting has come when I was able to step out of these.  When I was able to be present and engaged with my son.  When I was able to choose to spend my time and my emotional energy and my creativity on him…not because I had to or because I feared that he would leave me or be disappointed by me.  I could do those things because I chose to love him and I could not imagine any better way to spend my days than pouring out my life for my family.

            We are meant to be free and to use that freedom to bless those around us.  Step into that reality and be amazed at what life can bring.  

           

A moment to reflect:

What are the forces that drive you?  What could life look like if you were free of those?  If you are ready, take a few minutes to ask Jesus for freedom.