Off the grid. That’s what people say about themselves when they seek a completely self-sufficient lifestyle. No public utilities. No grocery store purchases. And, of course, total avoidance of Walmart! Is it realistic to live in this manner? Or is it admirable? Do those who choose to go off the grid feel freer of this world’s trappings? How free can we really be?
We love our ability to make personal choices. Many of us in this country enjoy extensive freedom to select from a plethora of options on a regular basis. The clothes we wear. The color of our hair. What we eat. Whether we live with a pet or not or with multiple pets. To be employed or not and in a job for which we are well-suited. To fill our leisure time with what we enjoy doing. And on and on. Generally, we exercise our free will in large and small ways every day. In some respects, even the impositions on our personal freedom are of our own choosing: indebtedness, marriage, parenthood, abiding by the law, belonging to clubs and organizations. Most of us don’t appreciate it when we feel like our freedom is being violated or restricted by someone else, yet it seems inevitable that it will happen because we live in a world full of other human beings. How free can we really be?
Exercising our free will can have dangerous consequences as well as tremendous benefits. Some people don’t seem to learn the art of using this precious gift wisely. They misuse the earth and abuse other human beings. They accumulate possessions and wealth with no regard for how it is all acquired. Loyalty means nothing and compassion is non-existent. Other people seem to be driven in self-destructive ways, eating and drinking and using drugs and speeding and even working or exercising excessively. It’s their right, they say. It’s their choice, they claim. Aren’t we all free to be who we are and to do as we please? Thankfully, many other people live within reason, care for the earth and other human beings, honor the laws of the land, and make choices that support and nurture life. Their attitude is more along the lines of respecting all living beings with sensitivity and grace, understanding free will as a gift to be handled with great care.
It’s one of the joys of human existence, sliding around on the slippery slope of free will. Perhaps we should consider ourselves as bearing a warning label as we walk this world: Handle with Care!
Comments