FREEDOM . . . to do what?

The catchword during the immediate past has been, ”Let’s free up.”

Disciplined action has been largely done away with. No longer is the strap or cane tolerated in schools. Because there is very little discipline in the home, parents have to resort to cajoling and bribery to get some law and order in their everyday living. Politicians have leapt on the bandwagon to free up the economy by throwing out existing rules and regulations; the old has been ousted and the new regime instituted so fast that the populace is lagging behind, uncertain and apprehensive of what the future will bring

What is freedom? What does it mean to be totally free? If freedom is to have lasting value it must be contained within definitive borders. In so many cases freedom is degenerating into, “Yes, I’ll do what I want even if it means breaking, or bending the rules so long as I am pleased, satisfied and rewarded.”

But we are also free to do right and live justly. When rules are broken we not only hurt ourselves but we hurt others. When the raging sea breaks down the barrier meant to contain it, chaos reigns until justice takes over to enforce the existing rule and the wall is rebuilt even stronger.

A person, who is free, is free to live an ordered life within the limits of well-defined conscience. If everyone on a collective basis lives in similar fashion within the confines of authority we are free indeed. In this country we have more freedom than many other countries but I fear we are abusing our privileges. We’ve been free to borrow up to the hilt both nationally and privately. We’ve been free to split up with our life partner if the going gets rough. This type of freedom only seems to spawn a bucket full of problems and sorrow.
May I suggest that we are still free to decide on a new course of action for our lives and, since it will be our decision, we will have the sense of responsibility for what happens. We are rewarded with the decision when it is a good one and we should learn a lesson when it is a bad one.
You are totally free to plan your spending within your income. You are free to teach our children money discipline and skills. You are free to live on a lower income in order to save for your retirement. You are free to drive an old car even though your neighbor has a BMW. You don’t need to suffer the tyranny of others’ expectations. You are free to be honest, up front, full of integrity, free to keep the laws of the country and free to legitimately avoid tax so long as you don’t evade it.
Which freedom will you choose – to do right or wrong?
The ball is totally in your court