Love that sets us free
If we check online for this quote, Maya Angelou is the name that appears as in the quote below. Hers is a beautiful one.
This quote can be originally attributed to Jesus or the Bible, though we might not find the exact words. The famous one says, “you shall know the truth and truth shall set us free”. Again truth is a person and that person sets us free. Love is the nature of that person (no prize for guessing the name). The hymn of love in the letter of Paul to Corinthians has a beautiful line,
Probably the other lines like love is patient, kind and love never ends are more attractive. What does it mean by saying love doesn’t insist in its own way? Is it speaking of freedom? Is it applicable to God’s free-gift of freedom to each of us? I strongly feel yes.
The creator God gifted freedom to the human being. If God has love in the very core of God’s being, freedom is an automatic choice. Some of us might say God made a slight mistake in giving this freedom; we can think however we want. But love and freedom are intimately connected.
It’s good to ask whether our love is a freeing love or a controlling love? I don’t use the word controlling in that absolute negative sense, but many a times, I think I know what is the best for him or her, and so I want that to happen with them and I am ready to force it. Once we experience God’s love as love with absolute freedom, I start loving God in the absolute freedom. I start loving others also in freedom. Or their freedom is highly valued in love, even when they disagree with me.
Now this version of love is not a one day experience or choice; it’s a constant choice and growing into it. I continue to love others in freedom. I continue to experience God’s love which is freeing. Zacchaeus experienced this freeing love and then he told the crowd that he is giving half of his wealth to the poor etc. But this love, I don’t think was just a one time experience for him, if he has to live his life in this freeing love.
***Your comments and opinions are eagerly awaited***
