Finding Lasting Freedom

If you want to accelerate your spiritual understanding, a great way to do it is by standing in a long, slow-moving line.

I learned this lesson a few years ago at a pandemic-era DMV visit. I learned it again a few days ago at the post office. At first, I wasn’t discouraged to see a longish line because the wait at this particular post office had never been especially long. But after standing in it several minutes, I noticed it was not moving. Upon closer inspection, I could see there were two clerks instead of the usual three. Not only that, but each person who approached the counter appeared to have a complex, multistep transaction.

I thought about leaving and coming back later but worried the line might be even longer later in the afternoon. I stood there, feeling less and less free by the minute.

A big part of my frustration came from wanting the line to move faster, something over which I had no control. In fact, the more intently I focused my attention on the line, the slower it all seemed to be going. It took a while for me to realize the obvious: There was only one thing completely within my control—me. Of course, by the time I had realized it, I had been fuming for several minutes, growing increasingly impatient and irritated.

I wanted to reclaim my peace and feel free. After all, I realized, I was choosing to remain in the line. And knowing I had that choice helped me realize I had others too. I could choose to relax myself by breathing deeply. I could choose to pray and bless everyone in the line, in my life, and in the world. I could choose to think about anything I wanted. Just realizing that took my mind off my frustration, which helped me feel better and freer.

Spiritual Freedom Is Always Ours

Of course, feeling stuck in a long line is little more than an annoyance, a fleeting difficulty that will quickly fade into memory. And it pales in comparison to the all too real lack of freedom that people all over the world are feeling—whether because of who or where they are, the state of their finances, or the state of their health.

But spiritual truth applies to every kind of situation, from the trivial to the most consequential. Like every other attribute of the Divine—peace, love, joy, prosperity—freedom is always ours, an aspect of our spiritual identity. It is up to us to claim that freedom and use it to realize we are always free to choose our thoughts and use those thoughts to change our lives. This is the first step to changing and ultimately improving our external circumstances.

That’s not to say we should cast a judgmental eye toward ourselves or others, placing blame for circumstances beyond our choosing or control. But it does mean we can find agency in our minds and hearts to imagine what freedom would look like and to choose thoughts and feelings to help bring those circumstances about.

That’s how we can know lasting freedom untouched by the shifting fortunes of the world. It’s how we know with understanding faith that God is greater than any worldly circumstance. It’s how we live from the depths of our divinity, every day of the year.