Recently, while working from home, I headed to a local diner for lunch (I'm fond of their "Victorian" sandwich, add avocado), just a short stroll from my house. You see, winter's on the way, and once the snow comes to the central Rockies, these strolls to lunch become short drives with the heater going.
After a brief chat with the lady at the register about local happenings, and a few head nods to familiar faces, I headed for home with a warm sandwich and an appetite. While walking past a jobsite where carpenters were hard at work restoring an old home, I couldn't help but notice a very large pickup truck parked on the curb.
I mean LARGE. A shiny grey Ford "Superduty," or something like that, with big wheels, big tires, big grill—big everything. My first mental image was of this truck bouncing through the deserts of Iraq, dodging artillery blasts as troops in the back held on for dear life, glad to be protected by this battle-ready troop carrier.
Then a question popped into my mind, as if I were standing before the owner: "Why do you need so much truck? I mean, the gas mileage must be killing you!" And in this make-believe mental dialogue, the owner responded: "Hey, it's a free country."
What stopped me in my tracks, there on the sidewalk holding a slowly-cooling toasted Victorian, was this realization: I hardly ever hear this expression anymore.
Yes, I know. Part of it is the fact that I'm getting old(er), and times have changed. I've changed, you've changed, we all have changed. But it is something else as well: In our pursuit of comfort, fairness, and "paradise on earth," what price pays freedom for progress?
Freedom, like almost everything else in human society, brings with it good and bad elements, and is a tremendous responsibility fraught with risk. If you are a spiritual person, you understand that it is not something bestowed on man by his fellow man, but extends to the very existence of life in the universe. You have the freedom, in your thoughts and actions, to be kind, hateful, selfless, uncaring; to create a life of generous happiness or destroy yourself in self-indulgence. And you bear the consequences for this.
It is my impression that we are losing our understanding of freedom, due mainly to a loss of our spirit and connection with something bigger than ourselves. When this happens, we react more to things around us, instead of holding fast to our principles and to what's in our hearts.
In doing so, we lash out externally, thinking we can "fix" the world, and often attempt to shame others into proper action. We are surrounded by an unfair world full of "problems" in need of repair. We will force change—through laws and regulations—and legislate compassion or kindness. But these actions, in the long run, are futile and empty. Real, lasting results come about through calm, rational understandings and a change in our hearts.
With freedom, naturally comes risk. As we focus more externally, less guided by our hearts, we tend to sink to the lowest common denominator. If something becomes dangerous, risky, or a threat for anyone, we often go to the other extreme, preventing such behavior so no one gets hurt. The box keeps shrinking as we pass more rules and regulations banning this and that, and we feel better about ourselves knowing we have done something to address the "problem." Quickly enough, other problems arise as well, which need our attention. And the cycle continues.
I say forget political correctness and remember "sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." The differences in these understandings are huge. One tries to force people into proper behavior, while in their hearts they may still curse others. The other method says regardless of your trials, ignore these words and be strong inside. You cannot control others' actions, but can control how you handle it.
The latter develops character and maintains freedom; the former develops a trend that views the world and people in it as something to be corrected and controlled. Overall, without understanding the true purpose of human life and the existence of our world, "fixing" the world is futile.
Be guided by the heart. Know inside that there is wrong and right, action and consequence. My understanding is that the heavens judge all, and whether we live a noble life of fine character and compassion or waste it by having a narrow heart and living selfishly, in the end we are held accountable. No laws of man can change this or make it right.
Live bravely despite the risks. Let freedom ring.
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