I have never thought of freedom as the right to do whatever I wanted. Indeed, it is a divine right. But, I thought of it as the possibility to make choices. Those choices do have consequences. Those consequences do imply accountability. Consequently for me, freedom is all about responsibility.
As usual, my heartiest smiles illuminate my face when I learn something new and interesting—no one is told what to do in the Central Isle of Paradise, for one must know naturally what to do. Obviously, it is hard to imagine the notion of “I’m free to do whatever I want” in that perfect world where one can enter only, undoubtedly and ultimately only if unity with God is achieved.
I will never stop reiterating that I’m not in the business of changing people’s mind on this planet. My opinions are just what they are—opinions.
I have heard people say that they are free to love whomever they want. Indeed, they should enjoy that freedom.
I have heard people say that love makes them free. They are free to share it how it pleases them. Indeed, they should enjoy that freedom.
It is true that as a society, we have rules. But, who makes those rules? People we have chosen as our leaders or maybe who believed that they were chosen t “to show us the way.” Spiritual teachings have been passed on for generations among us though their interpretation varies according to personal or societal values. Besides, our conscience remains a tangible and pertinent regulator to evaluate our actions.
However, no rules or laws should deprive anyone of his or her rights to be free and be happy. If we may have no misunderstanding about the notion of freedom, how we feel happiness may differ tremendously. Most of us experience tenderness and identify it as a sign of love. Some us experience pain and feel it as emotionally satisfying and pleasurably stimulating—love and pleasure from pain. I’ll be the last one to call them deviants.
I have learned to accept our differences and try very hard not to be judgmental. I was told about the consequences of some types of behavior. That only concerns me and no one else. They are based on my belief and I’m no right whatsoever to impose them on anybody else. Amazingly enough, those words may not convince many of us who have been suffering or have suffered pain, rejection or insults because of their lifestyle or belief.
I know no more or better than anybody else. I try to live my life according to the standard of values I have freely chosen to abide by. After I told my optometrist that I do not drink and smoke, he surprisingly asked me what was wrong with me. I simply added—to make matter worse, Sir, I’m also a vegetarian. The way he looked at me might mean that I was no longer welcome in his office. But, I’ll try to schedule an appointment still.
The freedom we enjoy down here remains also a right also up there. But, there exists one major difference—no one can escape the consequences of his or her actions. Please, remember that we must relinquish our bodies in order to move on. But, many of our actions are recorded on our soul. No one is going to hell for it does not exist. However, what we do down here affects unavoidably what happens to us up there. Since down here, one cannot expand his or her physical comfort zone and expects his or her spirit to follow, self-discipline and self-control may be more than challenging up there for many of my free spirited brothers and sisters.
P.S. Believing that God does not exist or life does not exist after death does not eliminate the fact that God does exist and there is life after death. Once again, it is a personal opinion.
Words of faith!