Some thoughts on freedom

Freedom is an interesting concept. When I look at a bird in a cage, I instinctively want to release it. I want the bird to do what it is capable of doing - fly! Not flutter about in a cage, waiting for the odd person to walk along and perhaps attempt to stick their giant, fat finger through the bars of a tiny bird cage. But let’s say I release it. Who’s to say its first moments of landing post-flying won’t be its last after it is gobbled up by a neighbour’s cat? Freedom for the bird can come at a cost higher than it is willing to pay.

We say we want freedom in our political spheres too. Democracy for the whole world is the mantra of the US. And yet let’s do a little comparison. I was sitting in a lecture yesterday and was fascinated by the information presented. The professor reeled off some facts and figures that were terribly weighted towards a liberal (bordering on socialist) political agenda. For me this is always fun to hear so I listened intently. He said that in Cuba, there are three times the amount of doctors per head of population than the United Kingdom. Cuba is the only environmentally sustainable country in the world. Close to 100% of adults in Cuba are literate. And Cuba works from a preventative health care model and invests strongly into immunization, sanitation and ensures there is food for all. Some of the stats for poor Cubans are much better than those for poor Americans. How interesting what freedom has brought to the great democratic nation of America. Americans are free…to fend for themselves. Of course it is not all hunky dory in Cuba. They are a socialist nation and many personal freedoms are sacrificed, however that personal sacrifice can bring about a greater good.

This leads me to my third reflection. What does freedom mean in The Salvation Army? Does it mean we are released to be all that we were created to be? Perhaps, but there are some definite negative side affects. Do we all get to do whatever we want? Do we get to serve wherever and express whatever we think and blog whatever thing is on our heart? Perhaps. I guess my point is, are we living to be free, or are we serving to free others? Are we concerned that our paradigm is used, that our method is used? Or are we simply interested in freeing as many people as we can from the grips of Satan and the powers of this world? Maybe they are one and the same.

It seems there has been a lot of talk this week about models and imagery and processes and preparations and tools used by The Salvation Army. It is interesting (to a point) and filled with good intention. However it often releases the dangers of discontent and opposition that lurk within each of us, and as a result, our freedom to express ourselves leads to being eaten by a giant cat of selfish disagreement. To put it more simply, there are times we need to sacrifice the freedom of our own ways and instead fall in line with the structured way placed before us. Does that mean we compromise who we are? No. But it may mean submitting to a structure or a viewpoint that may differ from our natural inclination.

I did a home visit this week with a child whose life is utterly depressing. I won’t go into details but he has been touched by abuse and neglect and violence his whole life, and now he is paralysed with sadness and doubt. In his eyes, freedom right now is escaping his life in whatever way he can find. That is a dangerous road for a thirteen year old. Instead, his real path of freedom will be found on a tightrope walk of school attendance, avoiding drugs, choosing friends wisely and controlling justified anger and sadness.

And since this is a social justice blog after all, let’s look at revolution. Do we want to overthrow structures that are unjust? Yes, but we don’t want to overthrow structure itself. Freedom and revolution is not about being selfish. Quite the opposite, it is about radically adjusting systems to ensure the people as a collective are advanced, and not us or our views per se. This is freedom?

What I am trying to say, is that freedom is often very sacrificial, very measured and very structured rather than care-free, powerful and emancipated. Jesus used a cross to bring freedom. What painful sacrifice will you make in order that others would be free?

Gen