Liberty Is Personal

Posted by John on Aug 3rd, 2009 | no comments

“Never cut what you can untie.” ~ Joseph Joubert

I have so much news to share, so hang on to your hats!  But first, some pondering…

Liberty is defined as “the right and power to act, believe, or express oneself in a manner of one’s own choosing.” This isn’t just a right to be free from governmental oppression; it applies to our friendships, too.  When it comes to relationships, if we wish preserve liberty for ourselves, we must recognize and acquiesce to the liberty of our friends.

For example, a year ago we were deeply concerned for some friends who seemed to be withdrawing from us, from other friends and from church.  Our first reaction was to try to fix things by making them conform to our expectations of them (i.e, violate their liberty).  Our second reaction was to pray for them, love them with encouragement, and give them the space they felt they needed (i.e., preserve their liberty).

After months of praying, trusting God to work things out, they came to realize their need for us, their friends and their church.  But these things take time to ferment.  The key is to release them and entrust them to God’s care.  Today we are closer than ever before, encouraging each other, and growing together in our walks with God.

So the next time you feel like holding on to someone too tightly, maybe it’s time to recognize their liberty.  Let them go. Entrust them to God’s care by praying for them.  God and time bring justice and mercy.

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