When I am patient… I do not have to carry the regret of sharp words spoken.
When I am generous… I do not have to struggle to fall asleep with coldness in my heart.
When I am truthful… I do not feel the fear of keeping my story straight.
When I am humble… I do not have so far to fall when I inevitably get knocked off my prideful perch.
When I am gentle… I do not have keep my fist clenched around productivity as a measure of anything relevant.
When I am kind… I am not weighed down by the guilt of my rudeness.
When I forgive… I release the self-inflicting poison that is a grudge.
When I am thankful… I break the chains on discontentment and jealousy.
When I pursue peace… I turn loose the destructive lie that might makes right.
When I stop comparing myself to others… I extricate envy from my soul.
When I show mercy… I let the night swallow up the past and welcome a new dawn.
When I love, truly love… I set my anger free.
When I yield my will to the Spirit of the Lord… there is feet-off-the-ground freedom.
That’s how Saint Paul said it.
Jon Batiste says it like this:
“When I move my body just like this
I don’t know why but I feel like freedom”
When I move my heart with love like this
I don’t know why but I feel like freedom
When I move my hands with compassion like this
When I move my feet with justice like this
I don’t know why but I feel like freedom
“I hear a song that takes me back
And I let go with so much freedom”
I forget the things behind
and walk light-footed toward the things ahead.
“Is it the shoes?
Jumped up, kangaroo
We’re overdue for a little more prancing”
Oh yes, a little more prancing,
with caring and sharing,
more giving and thanking.
“You can’t stand still
This ain’t no drill
More than cheap thrills”
That is exactly what my snarky comments are: cheap thrills.
Believing the lie that moving my body and heart, soul and mind
toward anger, retaliation, and selfishness
will bring me happiness.
But when I move my body toward
patience, kindness, and gentleness,
I don’t know why but I feel like freedom.
“And I let go with so much freedom
Free to live how I wanna live”
I want to live with the Spirit of the Lord near.
“I’m gonna get what I’m gonna get
‘Cause it’s my freedom“
From Jon Batiste’s video “Freedom”
Was it this kind of freedom—
the kind that makes you dance
all the way down street
in your brightest clothes
with a marching band in tow—
that Jesus had in mind when He said His yoke is easy and His burden is light?
I think it just might be.
Lord, come quickly with freedom.
Lord, Come Quickly 