As we approach the 4th of July and with plans to celebrate the birth of this nation’s independence, we may bring particular attention to freedom.
Actually, every day is a good day to think about freedom. To be really free transcends the rights of a people to live under a permission-giving system of laws. True freedom precedes all external forms of liberty. I’m referring to the essential freedom that is inalienable from our true nature. It is the freedom to choose our very perception of all that arises within and without us. It is a freedom contained within our minds that allows us to choose how we will respond to the vagaries of life. The problem is that we are much less acquainted with this internal freedom than the rights which allow us to live where we choose or to vote our conscience in a free election.
Lacking recognition of my ability and freedom to choose how I will see a particular situation can be as oppressive to my experience as living under a dictatorial regime. If I fail to exercise this right to choose, I’m going to have difficult time enjoying life or liberty, let alone the pursuit of happiness. And I notice that most of the time I forget that I have this choice of perception and allow circumstances to dictate my reaction to life. However, our deepest Truth reminds us that we are not victims of the world unless we live on the surface where we can be tossed about by shifting winds of fortune and misfortune.
Our deepest nature, being spiritual, takes its perspective from the Wells of Unconditional Peace and Limitless Love. No matter what shows up on the landscape of my life, I have the (God-given) right and ability to choose my response; to let Love lead the way, and let Peace be my ultimate aim. We are only imprisoned by a belief that circumstances determine our experience, and we are liberated by the choice to respond according to the experience we want. As A Course in Miracles says,
“I could choose peace instead of this.” and
“Love will enter into any mind that truly wants it.”
Let’s celebrate all the freedoms we enjoy today and every day, and send up a virtual flare that lights up the sky with our Love and showers our homeland with Peace.
Join us Sunday via Facebook Live stream at Unity in the Olympics as we continue the series, Lessons in Awakening. This week, as you may have guessed, the topic is freedom, i.e. spiritual liberation.
Namaste,
Larry
Rev. Larry, your blogs are always so powerful and inspire me each week.Thank you for this Blog on Freedom. It's poignant, powerful and passion filled. Blessings Abound to you!