INTERIORLY FREE

Henri J.M. Nouwen (1932-1996) wrote, “When you are interiorly free you call others to freedom, whether you know it or not… A free man or a free woman creates a space where others feel safe and want to dwell. Our world is so full of conditions, demands, requirements, and obligations that we often wonder what is expected of us. But when we meet a truly free person there are no expectations, only an invitation to reach into ourselves and discover there our own freedom. Where true inner freedom is, there God is.”

Only free people can free people. The confusion often comes when it appears that one is free in some exterior ways… position, money, career, perfect family, etc., and all of these are important, but if the person is not free interiorly… in mind, soul, body, conscience, spirit… that person cannot create a space where others ‘feel safe and want to dwell.’ We must become free before inviting others into our freedom… otherwise they are trapped in our trap.

“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” Jesus