By the Way: Freedom must be a quality of the person who is free

By Oz Lorentzen on July 5, 2025.

I’ve been thinking about freedom, what with Canada Day and Independence Day this week.

Freedom is incredibly important, desired and sought after, and can look differently to various people, or at different stages of life.

Yet, if it is freedom it must have something in common in all situations, no matter how it is imagined or defined. Without attempting to be comprehensive, I think – borrowing some ancient advice – that freedom, in order to be real, must be a quality of the person who is free.

We mostly think of outward constraints when we think of the need to be free. Our own history, our autobiography, would help us see the error of that thinking.

Many of us, while chafing under the constraints of some external circumstance, once delivered, find that sooner or later we end up in some other (similar) constraining situation.

Our desire for freedom indicates that our well-being is dependant upon outside forces.

Others, it would seem, are free no matter what trying, vexing circumstances they face, regardless of the constraints they are under.

I think of the second type of people when I think about freedom. He or she is truly free when they can choose the sort of person they will be – which is evidenced by their actions and reactions – no matter what the presenting situation or circumstance. And that is the freedom I want.

I am not sure how to get there (although I hope I am making some progress) but I found an important clue: It is the truth that will set you free.

Oz Lorentzen is the pastor at St. Barnabas Anglican Church

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