Freedom

From Merriam-Webster:
Freedom: 1: the quality or state of being free: as a: the absence of necessity, coercion, or constraint in choice or action b: liberation from slavery or restraint or from the power of another : independence
Free: 3 a: relieved from or lacking something and especially something unpleasant or burdensome often used in combination b: not bound, confined, or detained by force

This morning as I was walking to work I was listening to my ipod, my California playlist of course because it starts the day off right. The song "I am Free" by the Newsboys came on about halfway through my walk to the School of Education. I was reminded of the freedom that I experienced this summer-freedom from school, freedom from KXA, freedom from all of the "stuff" that is going on in my family, freedom from bitterness that I have been holding on to since high school. I was reminded that I literaly laid all of that stuff down at the foot of the cross this summer but that ever so slowly I have begun to take those things back on, that I have begun to wrap myself up in those chains again. The last couple of weeks have been extremely frustrating and hard and I've cried a lot and I've been upset a lot and I have wondered many, many times why I ever came to Baylor and made the decisions I made. Next week is Thanksgiving and I'll be going home for almost an entire week. (which is more time than I've spent with my family at one time in 6 months) I know that it will be easy to get wrapped up in everything that is going on in Livingston, all of the family drama, all of the bitterness and anger that wraps me up when I go home sometimes, and everything else.

But, this morning I had a revelation. I need to walk in freedom every single day. I have to quit putting those chains back on. I have to quit stressing myself out because I am putting those chains on. This summer and the beginning of this semester were absolutely incredible---I was able to enjoy myself and enjoy life and walk in freedom every day. I was close to God and loved it. Today I take those chains off again.

Sorry for the semi-depressing blog today...it's been on my heart all day. More exciting things are to come...:)

Happy Thanksgiving!

And now...for some lyrics...

Newsboys - I Am Free
Through you the blind will see
Through you the mute will sing
Through you the dead will rise
Through you our hearts will praise
Through you the darkness flees
Through you my heart screams
I am free
I am free

I am free to run(I am free to run)
I am free to dance(I am free to dance)
I am free to live for you(I am free to live for you)
I am free(I am free)
Yes, I am free(I am free)

Through you the blind will see
Through you the mute will sing
Through you the dead will rise
Through you our hearts will praise
Through you the darkness flees
Through you my heart screams
I am free
I am free
Are you free?
I am free

Augustana-Boston
In the light of the sun, is there anyone?
Oh it has begun
Oh dear you look so lost,
Eyes are red and tears are shed,
This world you must've crossed,
You said

You don't know me,
You don't even care, oh yeah
She said
You don't know me,
You don't wear my chains,oh yeah

Essential yet appealed,
Carry all your thoughts across
An open field,
When flowers gaze at you
They're not the only ones who cry
When they see you
You said

You don't know me,
You don't even care, oh yeah
She said
You don't know me
And you don't wear my chains, oh yeah

She said I think I'll go to Boston
I think I'll start a new life
I think I'll start it over
Where no one knows my name
I'll get out of California
I'm tired of the weather
I think I'll get a lover and fly em out to Spain
I think I'll go to Boston
I think that I'm just tired
I think I need a new town
to leave this all behind
I think I need a sunrise
I'm tired of the sunset
I hear it's nice in the Summer
Some snow would be nice, oh yeah,

You don't know me, you don't even care...
Boston
Where no one knows my name
Where no one knows my name
Where no one knows my name
Yeah Boston
Where no one knows my name.