A Free Life

I have been reading subversive material again.  It routinely gets me in trouble.  But I am addicted.  And when I read this stuff, I am pulled to trying to live it.  And that's what gets me into really deep trouble.  So what have I been reading?  It is a short, philosophical/religious tract by a well known agitator who is never satisfied with leaving well enough alone.  It's called "A Letter to the Galatians!"  Yep, I've been reading the New Testament again!
This time I have been reading Eugene Peterson's version, The Message.  And I have been caught up in it like I have never been before.  Take this passage:

          "But what happens when we live God's way?  He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard--things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity.  We develop a
willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people.  We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our
way n life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely." (Gal. 5.22-23)

     In another place (Gal. 6.15) Paul writes (and Peterson translates)  "[God] is creating something totally new, a free life!"  I look at that and I marvel!  A Free Life!  What would a "free life" look like?  And then I realize that is exactly what he was describing in that longer passage.  A free life is one where I live out my affection for others, regardless of how they act.  It is a life where I am filled with energy each day because I sense that, with God, anything is possible.  It is a life in which I am at peace--constantly at peace, allowing all the turmoil that goes on around me to simply wash over me, without carrying me along with it.  It's where I can stick with things because I know God is with me to see it through and will carry me through the tough parts.  A free life happens when I allow myself to be compassionate in every situation because I am no longer afraid of what will happen to me when I open myself up to others.  It is a life where I see the holiness in everything around me, because God has made it all and sees value in it all.  A free life is one in which I no longer have to force my way on others, because I no longer live in fear.  Fear makes me demand my own way--the way I think is safe for me. When I live free, I can live into God's way, whatever that is today, fearless, because when I live into his way, He is always there to empower, guide, and sustain me.
     I want to live free!  Nothing is so intriguing to me as a life lived with perfect freedom from anxiety, constantly awake to God's presence and God's love, constantly empowered to do the good thing, the loving thing.
     When I look back on my life, I find that I have always been attracted to those people who know how to live life with those easy rhythms of grace that Paul is always talking about.  Sometimes they frustrate me--like they just don't see what is going on, like they just don't care!  What I have discovered is that they do care--very much.  They do see--often more than I do.  But they also trust that God is leading them in a path that will make the best use of their lives with the very people they have the best chance of affecting. They love God, they love others, and whenever there is a good thing to do, they do it.  Freely, simply, with power and graciousness.  And I so long to be like that.  Don't you?  -PJ