One of the most inspiring Movie i watched was the "Braveheart". have you watched it already?
it was a story of the first war of the Scottish Independence, played by Mel Gibson in the character of William Wallace. A well known warrior who fought and died for the sake of freedom. What was remarkable for me was the part when William Wallace was at the point of being assassinated amidst of the crowd and the only thing which could saved him was for him to pledge for mercy to their colonizers as a sign of defeat. What was shocking was, instead of shouting "Mercy" which his people wishes him to do in exchange of death, He contrarily shouted "Freedom" and there was a long silence that made really big impact to me. =(
Many people, now, should have shouted the same. Yes, we are now living in this point of our history when we can celebrate our independence. We were celebrating this for a hundred or more, so good to hear! but let me ask you, do you think we can really be called an independent people? or until now, we are still holding our place in another's faith?
Alright, I do not want to talk about our beautiful country with regards to freedom. But i would like to come into a thought that rang when i was listening to my spiritual adviser this day. I was very delighted to hear those revealing facts that were happening in our own lives. What i would like to share in this note is my new understanding about "Freedom" and "Bondage". Let me look at the micro level of this topic, With this, i believe that many of our sufferings are fruits of our own actions. You might be enjoying with your family if you just do not commit crime because of your anger. You might be healthier when you just realized in the start that drinking alcohol lead to kidney failure. The fruits of our actions are translated into either "Freedom" or "Bondage", In fact, Gautama once stated that we are the fruits of our own actions, and there is nothing to be blamed and worked on, except us.
I am sure, all of us want freedom in any form, but still many of us were stocked in ignorance why we often see ourselves in bondage. I myself is subjected to this, but let me tell you what i have learned from the reflection i got from my spiritual leader, Mr Carlo Panlillio.
He gave us Three primary reasons why people are still in BONDAGE?
1. RESIGNATION CULTURE
- Resignation culture is the act of just accepting what they are or where they are, it is some sort of mediocrity which lies from knowing that he cannot help about the situation or condition he is experiencing. These are people who knows that there is something wrong, but do not react because they have thought that they cannot do anything about it. They thought that efforts are not worth it, they are thinking on the first place that even when they try to change things it will just end up to waste. They thought that their actions does not really affect anything, people who just have just decided to play whatever the game turns them into.
For instance, when coming late is just an ordinary thing in the work, then these people just accept this routine for they believe that they cannot do anything about that habit. you see the bondage here? now, those people might just do the same thing again, they might be irritated to themselves but they will find out that their energy is not enough to turn this habit off. Why, because they have resigned already, They have believed it rooted so deeply in their minds.
2. VICTIM MENTALITY
- I have known people when they have committed a mistake, they instantly point their fingers to others. This is another reason for bondage, bondage of a victim mentality. Others may not realize this, but it is so obvious that when life turns low, we often see ourselves treating that we were just victims of our situation. Other economically disadvantaged people might think that it is because of the government why they were experiencing poverty. Yes, it might be, but making you think it in yourself as if you have been born a victim is not normal. We have a saying, that "rich people become richer and poor people become poorer".. It has a point for where did they have difference, "Thinking" one think about appreciating blessings and the other curse their poverty. If you were a victim of abuse, thinking again and again that you are a victim all of your life will not help you. In fact it imprisons you! Thinking about the wallet you left somewhere for a week is imprisoning you also. Alright, are you familiar with the saying that, everything is in the mind? embrace that thinking, true... we are as free as we made up our minds to be.
3. YIELDING TO SIN
- We know sin, it is something that is against your conscience. If we let ourselves be infected by sin, being free to whatever extent is difficult to achieve. It is like swimming in the ocean with self made shackles on your feet. It is close to impossibility to be free of education, when all your time you just play computer games. You cannot be freed to have a happy family if you try to cheat on your partner. It is impossible to be financially free when you get involved in gambling. Ok, sin might give you short happiness but once it has contaminated your life so badly, it will be hard for you to come out of misery!
For all we know, all our lives were lived in bondage, Either obvious or shallow!...
It is important that we got this awareness of that shackles in you, and decide to break it.
Let me site a good story from the bible.
In Jerusalem, there is a Jewish festival which caters many events. One of the attractions was the pool of Bethesda. A miraculous water, ( as many people describe it) that heals any kind of diseases for an angel comes down from heaven and whoever jumps into the river first shall be healed right away. That was why in parameter were thousands of people having different kinds of illness and diseases, In other words, people who are physically in Bondage with sickness.
Then at the far edge of the pool was a paralyzed man, who cannot move most part of his body, who has been there for 38 years waiting to be healed. He cannot move his body towards the water, so it took him 38 years just waiting and seeing angels as they come down, and seeing others being healed.
One time, along the midst of people, Jesus happened to walk on the site. He saw the old paralyzed man who cannot move even a bit. Jesus was feeling sorry for the man asking, "hey, paralyzed man, Do you want to get healed?" the old paralyzed man, hardly speak and said... "Sir, there is no one helping me get there in the pool, if there is, i might be healed long time ago" Then Jesus, became upset a bit saying " Old Paralyzed man, Get up, Pick up you mat and Walk!"_ Then the old man tries as what jesus says and ended up realizing he can actually do it himself now!
------
See, the old paralyzed man has been in bondage for 38 years! and look, the main reason was no one was helping him reach the pool. it is the victim mentality he has, and the resignation act of accepting he cannot do anything about his condition. What Jesus did was to command him to get up! and Pick up his own mat! ( do not stay there!) and Walk. ( Without help) There in his own belief and conviction he can be finally be FREED!!!
Guys try to watch "Braveheart" directed and acted by Mel Gibson. It was so Inspiring! Freeeeeeedddoooooommmm!!!!
DO not Lose your TEstiMony!
_NosredJohn
Comments
Post a Comment