Freedom. That's my word of the day as we reflect upon and
commemorate Liberation Day. But before I proceed take a pause
and reflect: are you free? Yes, you walked home late last night without
being touched. For many years nobody has probably broken into your house
and stolen your stuff. You sleep soundly every night; life is
generally good. But are you free?
I don't know if you are but I know that freedom cannot be delivered on a silver platter. Freedom is something worked hard and fought for. Yes, somebody may create an environment to orchestrate the attainment of freedom but in the end freedom is a destination one must arrive at through personal travail.
Freedom,
as it is, has many facets but the greatest is mental freedom. In this
unpredictable and intensely competitive world, those with mental freedom
will always have an edge over the unfree. Sadly, the truly free are the
minority, and have to bear the burden of guiding and saving society
from descending into total depravity.
It does not help that the age we are in gives preeminence to quantity at the expense of quality. Through the theory of ends and means, fame, power and riches are pursued and the conscience is seared. The true men and women of integrity and courage (these are free indeed) are despised, harassed and sometimes ostracized for refusing to bow to the dictates of their society. But their candles never burn out; they flicker on, guiding the marginalized, inspiring them to keep hope alive.
Thus to be great and lead a fulfilled life starts with mental freedom. Read about the lives of personalities like Martin Luther Jr., Kwame Nkrumah, Festo Kivengere, Benjamin Franklin etc., you will understand the freedom of the mind, how it’s attained and the things it can stir you to do for the greater good.
I don't know if you are but I know that freedom cannot be delivered on a silver platter. Freedom is something worked hard and fought for. Yes, somebody may create an environment to orchestrate the attainment of freedom but in the end freedom is a destination one must arrive at through personal travail.
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| Bishop Festo Kivengere was indeed a free man |
It does not help that the age we are in gives preeminence to quantity at the expense of quality. Through the theory of ends and means, fame, power and riches are pursued and the conscience is seared. The true men and women of integrity and courage (these are free indeed) are despised, harassed and sometimes ostracized for refusing to bow to the dictates of their society. But their candles never burn out; they flicker on, guiding the marginalized, inspiring them to keep hope alive.
Thus to be great and lead a fulfilled life starts with mental freedom. Read about the lives of personalities like Martin Luther Jr., Kwame Nkrumah, Festo Kivengere, Benjamin Franklin etc., you will understand the freedom of the mind, how it’s attained and the things it can stir you to do for the greater good.
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