“Freedom’s just another word for nothin’ left to lose”

February 7, 2022

Scripture

For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another. (Galatians 5:13-15 NLT)

“Freedom’s just another word for nothin’ left to lose”

I don’t know if this plaintive line from Kris Kristofferson’s iconic song “Me and Bobby McGee” can be heard amidst the blaring of truck horns in many places of our fair land. Freedom is a big word in our conversations – if that is the word to use.

Some shout “You are oppressing us.” Only to hear “Your ideas are unacceptable” - and the list could go on. Sadly, it is dividing families, friends, and faith groups as well as other parts of our commonwealth.

There is a tradition that Jesus chose a guy named Simon the Zealot to balance off the tax collector Matthew’s membership on his team. Tradition holds that the Zealots hated tax collectors so much that they would infiltrate crowds and eliminate the tax collector with a compact sword. Jesus created an opportunity for a man who would kill the other if he had opportunity to walk, work, sleep and eat within his close group. Probably some heated political debates happened among the opinionated 12 but Jesus’ call was higher than what separated them.

We are in a similar challenge where positions on issues are being used as a basis for fellowship. Jesus has followers with very different views on the issues that are boiling in our country – on all sides. None of us owns the higher ground, but we are called to seek it where Jesus is the highest call and highest common denominator.

But our quest for freedom leaves us with an awful lot to lose if peace isn’t restored.

A Prayer for Today

Courage comes from the heart and we are always welcomed by God, the Heart of all being. We bear witness to our faith, knowing that we are called to live lives of courage, love and reconciliation in the ordinary and extraordinary moments of each day. We bear witness, too, to our failures and our complicity in the fractures of our world. May we be courageous today. May we learn today. May we love today.  Amen. Amen.

(Padraig O Tuama, Daily Prayer with the Corrymeela Community)