The Hidden Cost of Freedom

I don’t know about you, but holidays like Memorial Day really make me reflect on how blessed we are to live in America. There are so many countries whose people don’t get to enjoy the freedom and liberties that we do, and because of that I am truly grateful to live here.

As a matter of fact, I had a reality check about this just last night while at the beach. A Ukrainian man came up to us after watching us baptize 6 people in the Gulf of Mexico, and he told us that his parents used to baptize people in the former Soviet Union, but they had to do it at night with nobody around or else they could be arrested by the KGB.

Can you imagine!?

Of course, as you well know, our religious and political freedoms have come at the cost of many brave men and women’s lives, and for that I am incredibly thankful. I consider them all heroes, worthy of a holiday and then some. Jesus even said “there is no greater love than this, than to lay down your life for your friends” John 15:13

Of course, the reason why America’s freedoms are so great is because they translate into personal freedom. That is the freedom to make your own choices with your time, your money, your health, your family and ultimately with your life.

Now, as great as personal freedom is, there’s one big downside- it comes with a great deal of responsibility and accountability.

When we are forced to do something against our will, whatever happens is the “fault” of the one doing the enforcing. When we make our own choices, the fault falls squarely onto us.

Yes it is great to have the freedom to (for the most part) be able to eat whatever we want, drink whatever we want, watch as much TV as we want, go where we want and do what we want, but do the choices we make with that freedom help us or hurt us?

Now that we are all back to doing more of the stuff we did in the BC (Before COVID) era, I think it’s wise to remember that if not properly managed, our newly regained freedom could become a trap.

We can avoid that by remembering to keep first things first. Part of that means making time for YOU. Don’t let yourself get busy again with so much “stuff” that taking care of yourself with exercise or other healthy habits falls by the wayside.

I think you would agree that even if you live in the most free nation (and state) on the earth, your true freedom is in many ways determined by your physical health. If you are sick, weak, unenergized, in pain or otherwise disabled, it doesn’t matter whether you have governmentally granted liberty to do something or not, because an unwell body will rule over your life as badly as a cruel dictator.

Anyway, that’s just a little food for thought to chew on during Memorial Day. I hope you have a great one, and thank you so much if you have served!

God bless you and God bless America!

Chris