I’ve been thinking about freedom. It started with a devotional I heard on New Year’s Eve. Since then the concept of freedom has been tumbling around my brain.
The NYE speaker pointed to the song “Young, Wild and Free” as a cultural reference to what can be perceived as freedom. Until recently I’d only ever heard the chorus, but before writing this post I read all the lyrics. It’s basically about smoking weed…which, as my 5th grad D.A.R.E. class’ strongest finisher, I can assure you I’m not into. But this isn’t a post about drugs. It’s about freedom. The chorus goes like this:
So what we get drunk?
So what we smoke weed?
We’re just having fun
We don’t care who sees
So what we go out?
That’s how it’s supposed to be
Living young and wild and free
Classy, right?
It’s got that whole do whatever you want, no attention to consequences kind of vibe about it.
So I started thinking about freedom. The thing about freedom is that it means you are free from something. Our country was founded on the concept of freedom. Folks came here looking to be free. Free from religious oppression, free from persecutions, free from famine. The modern concept of freedom seems to have taken on a much wider berth. While we used to seek freedom from a force that kept us from being the best versions of ourselves…freedom is quickly becoming the right to do anything at anytime. And that’s not a safe practice for a successful society.
I think it’s dangerous because those “wild” and unruly actions can quickly become habits and addictions. Then suddenly the things that made you feel so free, {smoking, drinking, shirking responsibilities to get lost in the vortex of Pinterest, binge watching Netflix in the middle of the day, cheating on your other half} can easily become the things that weigh you down. They can ensnare us, tangle us, and leave us seeking freedom. Getting lost in the liberty to do anything anytime can mean that we sacrifice our ability to be world changers, doers, movers. Most of our young and wild living is self-serving. And I’ve learned that people who are really living, really doing things are usually interested in the external: the needs of others, helping, making a change, solving problems. They use their freedom of choice to make things happen. And here’s a truth-flash…it’s us young folk that need to be working to make a positive difference. I assure you, it’s not the elderly who should be improving the world.
So my big question is…what has you ensnared? Maybe it’s something heavy. Maybe it’s a freedom that has spun out of control. It’s a new year and a great time to assess yourself. Are you being free in the wrong way? Are you using your freedoms for good? What is keeping you from being the best/most productive/amazing person you were created to be? Search your heart and take a step toward becoming the person you desire to be.
Amy
PS…The guys who sing Young Wild and Free are 27, 28 and 42. So, that’s two kind-of-young-but-really-it’s-time-to-grow-up…and one not-young-at-all.
