Lent: We Rejoice in a Time to Grow   There is nothing so difficult as the internal conflicts we sometimes experience. Many would prefer to do anything other than struggle every day with a problem which seemingly has no end, no solution, no way out. The sensation is of being trapped so that no matter what we do or which way we turn there is no relief in sight.   Many people feel this way if their work offers them nothing more than a paycheck. Some find that living with someone who has a drinking problem is like that. Others find a habit imprisons them.   Loss of Control   For most of us who have had to deal with one form of trap or another, the feeling is also one of being out of control, i.e., things are being done to us rather than we are doing things.   People who are having severe mental problems often describe the problem as one in which they lost control over themselves, their thoughts, their actions, their lives. They describe the experience as the worst thing imaginable. The sense of panic at not being able to know why things are happening to you gives a feeling of lack of control that is frightening.   On the other hand, there are people who are so much in control that it is difficult to distinguish them from computers. Every action, every thought is calculated, giving a sense of being in contact with a machine which is controlled.   Did you ever meet someone who was too controlled?   Have you ever known someone who was out of control?   Being in control of yourself is one of the most difficult yet most important tasks of growing up. Only by controlling yourself are you able to make things work for you, rather than to have things just happen to you.   People in control of themselves are in a position to make things happen not only for themselves but for others, too. They see life as an opportunity. They direct their energies; they have a dynamic force within themselves which they should share with others in productive, positive ways.   We often fail to appreciate the central role of freedom in Christian life because the New Testament writers used the word salvation more frequently. But salvation and freedom are really the same. To be saved means to be set free from whatever holds us back from God.   Christian freedom is the power to choose good. We are free to perfect ourselves and others through love. Freedom is also a share in God's creative power. God created us to rule the world in His image and likeness. We cooperate with God in the ongoing work of creation, bringing fresh, new things into existence.   God's work is an expression of His love, His desire to communicate and give Himself. This love lies at the heart of Christian freedom. Sin, as a rejection of the good and a refusal to love, is a direct threat to freedom. Each sin begins or reinforces a habit which restricts future free choices. Jesus said that His mission was to save us from sin, so that we could become truly free (John 8:31 -36).   Threats to Freedom   Human freedom is limited in many ways. Physical or mental illness or fatigue can hamper us. Fear, anxiety, and passions can paralyze choice. Our instinctive drives for food, sex, pleasure, knowledge, prestige, power, and security can overpower and enslave us. Ignorance restricts our options. Habits remove much of our lives from the area of conscious decision. All of these are potential threats to liberty from within.   There are also external threats. Violence can inhibit freedom of movement, and pressure can be brought to bear on inner choices. Particularly insidious are the attacks on freedom which suppress information that we have a right to know. These include management of news, stifling open discussion, and the appeal to subconscious drives in order to manipulate. In addition, every culture has other built-in limitations. Emphasizing certain values serves to make their appeal stronger. This limits available options by shutting out or disparaging those other values which do not fit readily with the culture. Group pressure to conform can also curtail liberty.   The Spirit Frees Us   Jesus counteracts these threats by sending us the Holy Spirit. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom (2 Corinthians 3:17). The Spirit sets us free by making us sensitive to true values which can become the motivating forces in our lives. The Spirit helps us to weigh carefully the information available. He develops in us the gift of wisdom, the instinct for the right moment to act and the best means to achieve our goals.   The Spirit of love frees us from selfishness by building up our habits of self-denial and self-control. He helps us to respond to the attraction of good. He fills us with joy as we become aware of God's power at work in our lives. Do you experience the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life? Do you control your life? Or do other things and forces control you?   Prayer   Lord, send Your Holy Spirit to set me free from anything that would separate me from You. By His help give me control over my life so that I may use all my energies to praise and serve You. Give me the freedom and self-control of Jesus, Your Son. Amen.