This week of Independence Day—freedom is on my mind.Where would we be without our freedom? I don’t want to go there—not now. I just want to simply explore our basic freedoms.
My neighbors are having a tribute party this weekend, celebrating the life of a friend who passed away suddenly. They have live rock and roll bands, nearly a dozen motor homes, and a crowd of people. I didn’t know their friend, but I have to say, I think it’s a pretty special way to celebrate the fellow’s memory. And they are free to honor him in any way they choose to do. I’ve been listening to some of the lyrics of the rock and roll blaring from their speakers and became curious. I know that several rock and roll legends sang about freedom…how do they describe it?
I like Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Free Bird lyrics: “If I leave here tomorrow would you still remember me?” Later in the song it proclaims, “Cause I’m as free as a bird now.” Santana’s Freedom song lyrics include, “Sing songs of freedom; bring joy to the world.” In the Freedom Song by Mandisa, she sings, “Lift your hands up in the air; shout hallelujah.” Yet other songs say, “Free to speak and free to hear. Free from want and free from fear.” “Free to sail the seven seas. Free to worship as we please. If the birds up in the trees can be free, why can’t we?” And my favorite, “There’s nothing in the world like freedom.” Did you notice, freedom seems to translate to happiness in many of these songs?
I work from home and I have a large office window where I can look out on my yard. I have a couple of bird feeders and a fountain…a very serene setting. I like watching the birds and applaud them for their freedoms, but yet, most birds rarely change their patterns of migration, nesting, or food sources. As humans, we do have the freedom to make changes…as long as we are living and breathing, we are free to re-invent ourselves. There is a George Michael song with the lyric, “There is someone I forgot to be.” I like that—there is always time to make changes and do something different with your life.
About four years ago I started writing (right around the time that I turned 50). Perhaps it was one of those midlife crisis things; it wasn’t really even a conscious plan—I just had stories in my head I wanted to put down on paper. I hadn’t planned to become a writer, but I must say, I love this creative outlet. I have such freedom—freedom to joke, freedom to hope, freedom to win—but that is yet another freedom song.
You may not have aspirations of being a writer, or a painter, or a potter, but I bet there is something inside of you too that longs to be let out—your freedom of expression wants to be released. What do you do to exercise your freedom? Do you only dream about it? Do you make excuses about why the time isn’t right? Maybe you want to climb Mount Rainier or plant a rose garden. People can do amazing things, overcome handicaps, withstand torturous times…all to achieve worthwhile feats.
I’m sure you’ve heard it before—freedom isn’t free. Someone paid a price for our freedom. Jesus Christ died on the cross for our freedom from persecution from the devil. Nearly 2 million soldiers have died fighting for American freedom. Please, don’t waste it. Enjoy our freedoms. And not just on this coming Thursday holiday…always hold your head up and declare your freedoms. And finally, a quote from yet another old-time rock and roller, Jim Morrison: “Expose yourself to your deepest fear; after that, fear has no power, and the fear of freedom shrinks and vanishes. You are free. “ Please leave me a comment and tell me how you exercise your freedom.