Freedom, liberty. Concepts I was studying in graduate school when the faculty closed the program. I continue to ponder the paradoxes of meanings.
Some people think freedom is means to live without constraint.
I pondered the paradox of people who live in wild-fire-prone locations. Many grasp the freedom to landscape as they wish. Yet, when the inevitable wildfire occurs, that landscaping feeds the fire destroying their home and belongings and memories.
Freedom and consequence.
Paul, the apostle, wrote in his letter to the Jesus-followers in the Galatia region about freedom. It’s a short read. This time of year, freedom is on the minds of people in the US. Bev and I attended the Royal Nova Scotia Tattoo last week while vacationing out there. It was a celebration of freedom. A universal yearning.
Back to Paul. He explained that trying to follow all the laws promulgated both in the Torah and by generations of rabbis led to the opposite of freedom. Being so focused on not breaking any law bound you to the law.
In the paradox of freedom, he urged his readers to live in the Spirit since Jesus had died and been resurrected to fulfill the law. Now living in the Spirit paradoxically meant that you followed the important laws simply as a part of life.
They (we) are free, yet we know where the constraints are, and that doesn’t bother us. We know that living outside the Spirit is deadening. But living in the Spirit brings true life. The fruit of living that way,
Love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
And, wow, don’t we need more kindness and self-control in this age?
Faith Venture 
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