True Freedom

I know you’ve heard of the Statue of Liberty, but have you heard of the Statue of Responsibility?  If you haven’t that’s ok, because it doesn’t exist yet, although it was a project started to create a 300’ tower on the west coast.  Viktor Frankl, Holocaust survivor and author of “Man’s Search for Meaning” once said that the Statue of Liberty on the east coast should be paired with a Statue of Responsibility on the west coast.  He understood the fact that liberty alone could be wasted and become useless unless it was paired with responsibility, and that only with both could we realize true freedom.  (Liberty + Responsibility = Freedom)

I propose that the lack of personal responsibility may be a major contributor to the struggles we see in society today.  Most people have a hard time saying “my fault”, or “I take responsibility.”  When’s the last time you’ve heard a politician say they were wrong? 

It doesn’t seem there is much talk about taking responsibility for our actions and behaviors.  It’s easier to blame someone else or play the victim.  Some people believe they have the “freedom” to do whatever they would like, no matter what.  While this is true to an extent, we also know there are consequences to our actions, and while we may do whatever we would like, we may or may not like those consequences. 

As we consider how to live our lives, I suggest that we consider how to best utilize our personal freedom.  Do we see it as a license to do whatever we wish, or would we be better off considering how to use it responsibly, both for ourselves and our neighbors.  It reminds me of the advice my best friend’s mother gave me before I was married.  She said, “don’t think of marriage as being a 50/50 split, think of it as being 100/100, and give 100% all the time.” She told me that 28 years ago and I haven’t forgotten.  She was telling me the way to take responsibility for my marriage. How do we take responsibility for living our own lives, and also being a blessing and support to others?  May we live well, don’t blame, take responsibility, and realize our true freedom.  Freedom comes from responsibility.  

“Freedom, however, is not the last word. Freedom is only part of the story and half of the truth. Freedom is but the negative aspect of the whole phenomenon whose positive aspect is responsibleness. In fact, freedom is in danger of degenerating into mere arbitrariness unless it is lived in terms of responsibleness. That is why I recommend that the Statue of Liberty on the East Coast be supplemented by a Statue of Responsibility on the West Coast.”

-  Viktor Frankl