From
Galatians 3:1-6
“Freedom!”
           
H,
           
It is hard for us to adapt to true freedom. We have been in prison too long. We still think it is with hard labour. We run to prophets and charlatans because we still cannot believe that there is something within that can lead us to all truth in any definite sense. We are told the lie that we need to be controlled and fed poppycock by megalomaniacs in robes and suits. We need none of that mess. Church is community or it is nothing at all. Christ is the head of the church or it is a religious cult.
           
We also forget to be free of our own self will. We may accept the gospel only as it does not affect our personal needs. Now we do not need these things at all but the modern age has written its own bible and we now worship at that most unholy altar. We are told our id and ego need feeding. We are told it is important to be heard over others, to compete, to struggle and to hustle for our bit of the cake. We accept this because our self worth has been tied to the basic necessities we have been told not to worry about. It is no longer about having a meal but the best meal, not about shelter but the highest house on the hill, and no longer about the cover of clothes but the cover of magazines that tell us how what we wear can “complete us” and we will not be complete if we do not buy the full package. It will never be enough but we are told that it’s not enough because we do not yet have enough. Our personal well-being now has a price tag.
           
I am using a material example to the extreme but are we all not like that, H? Are we not all servants to the things that we think we need to feel better? You know my many struggles with…. And I know your many struggles with……
           
We are offered freedom from that mess. We have a real chance at a rich inner life that surpasses any material condition. We can find it in everyday or we can ignore it and have a ball on the nothing hill. I suspect we will always be drawn back to the riches on offer. There is a witness inside now that will not let go of us. He seems to know we cannot make much out of ourselves. He seems to wake us up every day with a sterling instruction to kneel and be lifted. Of course if we did that more we would be better. No worries, dear friend, we can start today.
           
Amen.