Tip of the Week

Tip of the Week Archive

Never trade freedom for security!

I realize that this Tip literally goes around the world and is not exclusive to those of us who live here in the United States.  However, if you will indulge me on this particular Tip, I think it will cross international lines and mean something special to each one of us.
 
The 4th of July has come to mean a great deal to all of us who live in America.  It is the date that we celebrate our independence as a nation.  The United States of America chose to stand on its own two feet centuries ago.  Because of that, rather than looking for a handout from someone else in the world, we have largely been the ones to extend a helping hand to others; whether it has been through medical aid, food distribution, missionary work, education, or numerous other areas of humanitarian endeavor.  The reason all of this is possible is because of our great desire to be a free people and a free nation. 
 
Rather than getting political or philosophical, let me go to a story.  That is where I find my strength and communication skills.
 
You may have seen the movie, "Braveheart," starring Mel Gibson. It gives a good, clear picture of what freedom is all about.  The movie portrays the period of time when Scotland was under the rule of England.  There had been many abuses over a long period of time.  Finally, those men and women who lived in Scotland had had enough.  (Now, please don't misunderstand.  I have many friends in England and mean no disrespect.)  However, there came a time when Scotland wanted to be an independent nation separate from England.  Because the people of Scotland wanted their freedom, they were willing fight and even die, rather than be under the rule of another country.  At the end of the movie, William Wallace (played by Mel Gibson) was captured and about to be executed.  He was asked if he had any final words.  If you have seen the movie, you know that with all his strength, the last thing he yelled was the word, "Freedom!"
 
Perhaps the main reason that wars have been started is because one country wanted to dominate another.  The desire to be free always comes at a great price. 
 
Freedom affects us not only nationally, but individually as well.  None of us wants to be a slave.  Even if we have a job working for a company, we want to know that we have some freedom within that job to excel.  We want to do our best.  We want to achieve bigger and better things.  That can only happen when given the freedom to do so. 
 
And, of course, ultimate freedom is when a person has worked long enough and has enough money to completely live on his or her own without ever having to work again.  That should be a goal for all of us who want to retire one day. 
 
Unfortunately we have learned in recent years that security can be illusive.  Many who thought they were financially secure have discovered that their investments have failed or that some unscrupulous company has mishandled their money causing them to lose their entire life savings.  What a tragedy! 
 
If someone offered to take care of our livelihood, make sure that we had insurance, health care, money in our pockets, a house to live in, and every other provision of life, it would be very tempting to accept that kind of security, wouldn't it?  However, history has shown us that kind of security never lasts very long.  The only kind of security that has ever lived through the ages and has proven itself through the tests of time is that of freedom. 
 
My goal in writing this Tip is simply to remind all of us that there is a difference between freedom and security.  Freedom is always better!  It comes at a great price.  Personally I am grateful for all those who have gone before us to lead the way, to fight and to do whatever was necessary in order that we could experience independence. 
 
It is my hope and prayer that will be true for all of us, because when we are free, we are in a position to do the best we can for ourselves, our families and for other people.

This information is provided in congruence with Personality Insights USA.

Tip of the Week Archive