Do We Have Our Freedom?

Perhaps we all at times have questions concerning freedom – especially young people who feel

at times too closely tied, and who sometimes seem to feel that freedom should mean freedom to do absolutely anything they want to do. We have all heard youngsters say in substance: If it’s a free

country, why can’t I do anything I want to do; why do I have to do anything I don’t want to do? Why do I have to practice? Why do I have to go to school? Why do I have to come in early – or account to anyone

at all? If it’s a free country, why can’t I go where I want and do what I want and take what I want?

Sooner or later, such flagrant misuse of freedom would lead to loss of freedom. Absolute and

unrestrained freedom is, of course, anarchy. And anarchy is not freedom, but complete chaos. We

cannot have freedom without responsibility. We cannot have freedom without respecting the right of others. We cannot have freedom without living within the law. And as to young people who earnestly

ask such questions, it may be helpful to remember these few simple essentials: Yes, we have our

freedom – freedom to be lazy, freedom to refuse to work, freedom to refuse to take advantage of our opportunities (even freedom to starve if we want to); freedom to be dishonest, freedom to choose the

right or wrong, honesty or dishonesty, chastity or unchastity, industry or indolence, honor or dishonor, truth or falsehood, good or evil, the wrong road or the right one. In all this we have our choice – even freedom to be stupid and ignorant – but in all of this also there is one thing we must remember: there is

no such thing as freedom from consequences. Freedom is a God-given right, and is essential to the soul’s salvation in the highest sense. And every man must be protected in his right to choose. But, when we flaunt our freedom – when we ignore any law – of society, of the land, of nature, or of God – we pay a price. We reap the results of the seeds we sow. Freedom can be used or abused, but there is this

certainty concerning it: freedom cannot keep us from consequences.