Take freedom away from an individual and everything else is priceless. Indeed, freedom comes with no price yet with high value.
History tells us that millions of lives have been sacrificed for freedom’s sake. Take the Philippines’ struggle against the Spaniards for an example. My forefathers, our then heroes, have fought for independence up until their last breath to finally become free from the chains and bludgeoning of the colonizers. Hence, even if freedom is of no price, it became essential to me and my fellow men for blood have been shed for it.
Freedom made us who we are today. It has allowed us to explore a myriad of opportunities as an autonomous man. It has encouraged us to practice and claim what are rightfully ours. On top of that, it has given us a name that we ought to protect and nurture.
Nowadays, having been able to acquire our self-determination, millions to billions of the country’s residents subject themselves to different acts of freedom. Most people tend to practice autonomy as a basic right and nurture it with apt care and great responsibility like a gift given to them. Some people try to engage with sharing their thoughts and speaking it up for others to hear and understand. While others indulge themselves to expressing their feelings towards the people they admire, love and care. Moreover, a few of them go around and take pleasure in traveling and sojourning around as single individuals.
As for my part, I perform my freedom in different ways. As a writer, I express my ideas freely through writing essays, poems and some in forms of song lyrics. As a person who loves to sing, I enjoy going to music lounges along with friends who share the same interest with me. Through this, I have learned to express how I feel and to let go of the hurt I sometimes keep within myself. On top of that, my most significant venture of freedom is when I go to a silent place and intently talk with someone I have not seen since time immemorial.
I’d say, praying is my ultimate means of freedom. Instead of enjoying scenic views when I go for long vacations, I prefer going to ancient churches here in the Philippines. I have traveled to the Bohol Province a year ago before it became a victim of the 7.2 magnitude earthquake. With that journey I was able to locate where most of my country’s old churches are built and had a proximate view of the symbolic features of our pasts.
Praying, like most pious individuals do, has been part of my daily routine not only in times of my travel adventures. As I wake up, before meals, at work, in times of trouble and difficulties and even during happy moments; I pray to God. It has given me the chance to connect with someone of higher power and to unite with my inner self. It has allowed me to liberally share my feelings, ideas, understanding and achievements without being ignored. Indeed, praying is my refuge from all dangers through out my days, a repository of my hopes and a vessel of my devotion.
I have always believed that God is omnipotent. That being said, I strongly hold in my heart the belief that He listens and understands me every time I converse with Him. I know that He never criticizes a person for his mistakes. Instead, He showers them love and affection. Even though He can not be seen, His undying love is manifested in the thousands of folds of blessings we receive each day. An example is the gift of life we benefit from everyday.
Furthermore, life has been so delightful to me since the time I started the good path with God. I pray not just for freedom per se but also as an act of reverence to the Almighty. With the line I have established with Him, I was able to reach unfathomable surfaces and unreachable horizons. Telephoning God in heaven is just like calling your best friend to share some adventures and unusual experiences. True as it may seem, my daily conversation with Him helped me a lot in all my struggles and pleasures in life.
Above all, this chosen endeavor has taught me that a prayer is the key to what we think is impossible. It lifts our hearts above the battles of life and gives us a glimpse of God’s resources which spell victory and hope. Hence, never cease praying.
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