Feeling Free

 A good question to ask ourselves is “Do I FEEL free?” I don’t mean “Do you KNOW you are free, or sing songs about freedom or pledge allegiance to the flag that represents “liberty” for all. I mean do you FEEL free? And if not, why not? [This is also a very good question to ask our self.]  We live in the most freedom-providing nation that has perhaps ever existed on this earth. But we see that no political system can provide the FEELING of freedom because there are always problems that political systems can not solve. Jesus said “In this world you will have tribulation.” There! He nailed it down, once and for all: we will never, in this life on earth, get to the place where there is no tribulation---problems, challenges, difficulties, suffering, loss and grief. We’re not going to get there. So if our feeling of freedom can only come with a better political system or a world with no problems, then we will never, in this earthly life FEEL free. 

This is a good [potentially wonderful] affirmation to make : “My life is exactly where I want it to be.” You will probably have to repeat it a few times before you can begin to feel the Truth of it---to feel it deeply within yourself. It is a true statement because the only place you can ever be is here and now. Wherever you go, you will always be here and now. You can never escape here and now. So if here and now is not where you want your life to be, you will never be where you want your life to be. This creates an unnecessary inner conflict that is resolved when you settle deeply into “My life is exactly where I want it to be.” This does not mean that we are no longer having problems or that we would not prefer that people would Love each other better. We certainly do have problems---some of them feel gargantuan---and we do long for a peaceful world where people Love each other better. In fact we are living in ways that we believe INCREASE that Love in this world. But we have come to have faith in the God of this universe, Who is Love, and we have dedicated our lives to that Love, in the Spirit of Christ Who gave His life in Love. And by faith we know that we are here and now because the God of this universe has ordained it to be so.  Therefore it has to be perfect, in the eternal sense, for me to be here and now. No matter how it feels in the temporary sense.  All my sins are forgiven. My Lord doesn’t expect me to be at the top of my game all the time---or maybe ever.  He is working ALL things together for my [and our] good. I [we] are loved beyond our ability to comprehend---more than we love our children!  Knowing this Truth deeply can open up within us the FEELING of freedom. “The Truth will set you free” [Jesus].  The freedom-feeling, which is akin to peace, envelops--swallows up-- all the tribulation, problems, difficulties, unrighteousness, injustice, grief, sadness, sorrow and losses. It holds all the hurt in the arms of divine Love. It spreads throughout the universe---not just this planet. It comprises the core of your being. It is the essence of what you eternally are. It is the FEELING of Love.  God = Jesus = Truth = Love = Freedom.