Freedom Rambling

It's been a while... I've been thinking about freedom. Of course, Easter is about freedom since Jesus died to set us free from the power of sin. The freedom is there for all, but we must receive it, embrace it, allow it to grow within us. And we live in the land of the free. "Live free or die!" quotes the CT license plate, honoring Patrick Henry. Our Founding Fathers' passion for freedom is what gave birth to this great nation (anyone watching "John Adams" or read the book? Wow!). We have amazing freedoms and opportunities all around us if we would just live them.

Why is it that so many people seem to be so complacent about freedom? Do we just take it for granted? Are we too lazy to really consider it? Do we prefer hand-outs and bondage because that's the known entity (I've heard that when slavery ended in the US, some former slaves just continued what they had been doing because that's what they knew and it was hard to make the mental adjustment to freedom all at once.)? Or are we just sheep?

How easily will we trade away our freedoms? Spiritually, will we trade a bit for legalism in the name of convenience (because maybe it's just easier to impose some well-planned rules than to always evaluate things)? Or maybe trade some freedom for reason so the faith doesn't sound quite so "wacky"? Economically, will we trade some freedom for some more socialism because the government does things so well (!) and has the best intentions (!) of taking care of everyone, which sounds so nice (right, comrade?)? Will we trade away a bit of freedom of speech to make sure no one feels "offended" (and we'll have no losers here, just victims apparently)?

Freedom comes at a price, but maybe someone else has paid for it so some of us don't fully appreciate its worth. Spiritual freedom, salvation, was paid for by Jesus' blood on the cross, and we receive it through faith, by grace, the end. American freedom has also been paid for by blood and sacrifice. We are born or immigrate into this American heritage - what do we contribute back as good citizens? Do our lives build upon the legacy we inherit, to strengthen it, to further "secure the blessings of liberty for ourselves and our posterity"?

Or do we keep making trades of convenience? Reminds me of Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here"... "Did they get you to trade your heroes for ghosts?... a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage." When we're finished trading, what will be left?