July 4, 2020. Oh, what a year it has been, and we are only halfway through. Here we are at Independence Day amid a pandemic, protests for black rights and the most contentious political environment in some time. So, what does this holiday stand for? We have learned all about this in school. It was when our forefathers had an idea of creating a new nation that would declare that all people are created equal and everyone has the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. In one-word Freedom. Also, in this declaration it is the government’s responsibility to protect these rights. They protect my right to the freedom to be me, freedom to worship as I desire, and the freedom to go outside when I want, where I want and how I want. Hmmm…well, maybe not that last one?
Okay, so here we are 200 plus years later, it has come to light that this ideal is great but there are a lot of opinions of how these things are defined. Well now I am stuck between a rock and a hard place! Now I am asked to give up what I think is my freedom for someone else? Well, how am I supposed to support someone else without feeling like I am being asked to give up something of mine?
I know this answer and want to share it. I have had the opportunity to listen to Rev Kitty over the past few years and have learned from her that allowing someone their freedom does not take any of my freedom away. In my time listening to her messages I have three big take-aways.
1. We are All One.
2. I am Love
3. No One or Nothing Can Take My Good Away from Me.
These 3 truths result in my Freedom. The key to my Happiness is living my life from a place of love for self and others. If I think from that viewpoint, I feel blissful when I can make someone else’s life just a little better or potentially protect them from something that might harm them or their loved ones. I am happy to give up the closer parking space, I am happy to wear a mask and I am a better human being and spiritual being for that perspective, and I am happy. Living in love means doing what is best for the greater good which in turn results in my good. What a wonderful sense of Freedom to live my life from a place of Love for all.
One last question looms out there. What about someone that I completely disagree with? That I don’t see eye to eye with? Well, my answer is…I get over it!! I do not need them to think like me. By separating my happiness from their beliefs, I AM FREE.
