Of Freedom

I noticed something strange this weekend.

I had lunch with two old friends, one out visiting from Australia. They got into a discussion over letting their daughters pierce their ears - a traditional "no" for the denomination (do not adorn yourself etc., you know). One of the ladies, a teacher, was informed that she is not allowed to wear her earrings, a stud, sleeper or anything like that to school, "so don't even bother piercing your ears". I got told something similar for wearing a necklace (with a cross) once. Not done, we have an "image to maintain".

Funny enough though, the pastor-father-in-law of the Australian lady had a very different tune after a solid week of Bible research - that it's OK to go ahead and pierce your ears, but don't go make it a god! So the daughters had their ears pierced. But the South Afrian family is still stuck with the "no"...

A year or two ago, and I'd have been in the thick of the argument. This year I didn't say a word. I sat listening in amazement at how Christians can nit-pick over such a tiny little issue (to me).

I couldn't believe the freedom I feel inside, freedom from having to verbally and mentally dissect things that may have nothing to do with me being a Christian. Sure, I respect the rights of those I work for, so I don't wear my necklace for their sakes, but it's no longer an issue for me. And much of the legalistic stuff has gone the same way!

These days my Sabbath (seen as a legalistic obligation by many who have not experienced its blessings) is a weekly choice, not a rule. My lifestyle is what I think Jesus would want me to do as I live out how He's changing me - it's not a bunch of regulations to adhere to for the sake of appearing good or conforming to the crowd. I'm not worried (overly) by what people think (unless what I do/say is going to be detrimental to their Christian experience), but rest in knowing it's what God thinks that counts.

Come to think of it, I'm resting in a whole lot of God-aspects lately.

They may question the way I'm bringing up my son because it seems so different from the carefully-regulated way others bring up theirs. (I've been condemned to eternal damnation over things like Pokemon, Lord of the Rings, and daring to stop by another denomination - and enjoy it!...) Yet now we find a pleasure in our God-time / home-church that he never had in his weekly appearance at the local congregation. He sees God in everyday life and is learning to make that all-important eternal Connection for himself.

While listening to my friends conversation this weekend, I longed for them to experience the inner freedom I feel - freedom from a downward-spiraling trap of "keep this rule or you're not good enough" - freedom from bowing to men's wishes over God's or making the Rules such an obsession that you lose sight of what's really important.

My heart aches for them. I wish I could give them a glimpse of what I've found. But it would be like exposing them to blinding sunlight after growing up in twilight - their eyes would not be able to stand it, their minds would not comprehend it. Where I'm at now is the result of a journey that has spanned years, a culmination of many decisions and turns, leading me to what's right for me, now. It's not where they're at and I can't drag them through the shortcut here.

All I can do is share morsels of what I've found, slowly expose them to what I'm learning, and then leave it up to God to bring them to where He wants them (which may be nowhere near where I'd like to see them, actually! For all I know they could be there already and I'm just imagining things.). Freedom in Him that's right for them, where they are, right at that moment in time.