Who is Truly Free?

"Look out the window. Tell me what you see. You see the same things that you see everyday. Well, imagine you've never seen it. Imagine you spent your whole life in other parts of the world, being told everyday that you're defending freedom. Then you finally decide you've had enough. Time to see what you've given up your whole life for, everything. Get some of that "freedom" for yourself. Look at the people. You tell me which ones are free. Free from debt. Anxiety. Stress. Fear. Failure. Indignity. Betrayal. How many wish that they were born knowing what they know now? Ask yourself how many would do things the same way over again, and how many would live their lives like me."

-- Jack Reacher, "Jack Reacher" (2012)

I was sitting in front of the television with this banana watching the movie Jack Reacher when Jack's dialogue took on a philosophical tone and this quote adhered itself to the lackluster grey matter between my ears. I used to wonder how authors kept coming up with these tasty tidbits, and then I tried my hand at writing a couple of rough novels. It really isn't rocket science. But where it becomes a science is when you have to keep your readers attention after twenty Jack Reacher novels, especially after the movie where they miscast short Tom Cruise as the tall Jack Reacher when, as my dad says, ex-football star and actor Howie Long would have been a much better choice. Is it any wonder author Jim Grant says he's written his last Reacher novel? He made a bundle giving up the rights so the film industry could bastardize, I'm sorry, take "artistic liberties" with his character.  But, I digress.

I'm not sure there are many of us that can make this statement of Jack's.  I know I wouldn't have been able to, not until the turn of the century.  There are two very important things in my life that I love my ex-wife for.  One is that she gave me two of the greatest gifts I could have ever asked for - my kids.  The second is that she taught me, by virtue of a divorce decree, to be independent; free from debt, stress, fear, failure, indignity, and betrayal.  It was easy to learn because I didn't realize I'd collected all of this baggage.  All that was required was for me to remember who I was, back in the day.  I, too, wish I'd known then what I know now.  I sure as hell wouldn't do many things the same way.  Hell, half the things I wouldn't even consider.

But, today, how many would live their lives like me?  Who of us is truly free?

We don't begin to know what freedom is until we come to a place in our lives where we have no need to impress anybody.

I've asked this question and addressed it before in an earlier post, Who Owns You?   I think it addresses the point being made.  Who do you owe?  Who owns your life?  If you have debt, you are someone's indentured servant and, like most slaves, the masters have rigged the game so you will virtually have no chance of ever seeing freedom.  Now, I ask you again, being painfully indelicate, whose bitch are you?  Not very nice to hear is it?  It's easy to say, however.  It really rolls off the tongue like sweet nothings.  I'll let you chew on this bitter banana peel for a bit.  You can try to deny it... no you really can't.  Denying the painfully obvious just makes one look sad.  We've all been there, or are still there, so who are you really trying to convince?  Who you gonna try to blame?  Huh?  It's your life, your choices.  One freedom we carry with us is our freedom to choose what we do.

When there are no conflicts in you between material wealth and spiritual life, you have found yourself.

Like Adam in the garden, life is full of choices.  The apples are put before us and the rules are simple - don't eat of the forbidden fruit.  Unfortunately we are human and, as smart as many of us may think we are, we aren't.  The rich and powerful, the haves and have mores, the beautiful people, doctors and lawyers, and the political elite, fall from great heights all the time due to poor judgment, bad choices, debt, stress, et al.  The rest of us fair not much better.  Virtually no one is immune to wanting more than they can afford, and wanting more is the root of our failure, and our servitude.  For those thinking they're immune, do you own a car?  Why do you have insurance on it?  A Social Security Number?  Licences? Identity cards?  Do you clock in and out, because you have to?  Answer to a boss, because you have to?  Do things because you have to, or because you're required to?  Freedom becomes fleeting in the blink of an eye...

Of what use is your Wealth and Kingdom if you don't have the Liberation and Freedom to Be what you want to Be.

Who among us is truly free?  I'll ask it again, and then it's back to my banana:  Who is in your wallet?

Editor's Note 

(re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card) 

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so.

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and then engaging in peaceful, constructive, discussion and debate in an arena of mutual respect concerning the opinions put forth. After over twenty years as a military intelligence analyst, planner, and briefer, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we do afterward, and what we learn from the experience.

Frank Anthony Villari (aka, Pastor Tony)

Pastor Tony is founder of the Congregation for Religious Tolerance and author/editor of the Congregation's official blog site, "The Path."