Freedom is not free

Yes, I can talk about how much money is required to get setup, how much work is involved and that sort of thing.  However, tonight I want to talk about the other 'costs' that are associated with freedom.  Costs that tend to scare people away from the idea and compel them to maintain the status quo.  Costs that intimidate the timid and weary.  

I've been teaching classes for nearly ten years, sharing my own journey recovering from depression and suicide and how those experiences completely relates to my choice to say 'NO' to the abusive relationship of the state.  As a reformed abuser myself, it is easy for me to see how others are abusive.  People who do this while wearing a badge or hide behind the mask of authority are not immune to my rebuke as authority does not excuse violence.  

This has caused great rifts to form within my own family.  Most people may not know this, but I have a younger brother and sister. My sister is now a detective with the Edmonton Police Service.  My brother is a constable for the Medicine Hat Police Service.  His wife, my sister-in-law, is also a constable for the same police service.  I also have two uncles retired from the police service too.  One of my uncles was even involved in a project by the provincial government to integrate all the police computer systems in the province (API3). 

Suffice to say, family events don't happen very often.  In fact, I've not seen my brother or sister since my dad passed away in February 2014, nearly 4 years ago.  I know that my siblings have been ordered to not spend time with me because of my political views and activism.  The ideas that I share are a threat to the state.  So I've had to mourn the loss of my family as a result of the choices that I've made.  They are contrary to everything my family believes in and lives their lives by.  

This divide has also been witnessed within marriages as well.  I'm fortunate that my wife and I have come to a consensus regarding the direction that we want to live our lives.  But I've seen many relationships break up because one side struggles with the information or cannot come to terms with the information being shared.  It is just too much for them to let go and accept the reality of their relationship with the state.  Meanwhile, the other side is working hard to make the changes.  The chasm between the two ends up being too much for the relationship to withstand.  On the flip side I've also seen some relationships form as like minded people find each other.

Tonight I decided to walk away from Facebook.  I've spent years writing and interacting with people all over the world, especially since UNGRIP came out in October 2011.  I've been enriched by the experience and I've learned a lot through the process.  However, the people wearing the Facebook masks, those who work as employees, have slowly limited the people that I can interact with.  With the algorithms that they use to control content, I found my message does not get the reach it once had.  It also saddens me that they profit so much by the content that I've shared.  Greed has taken root and I cannot support that.  Living my life on a code of ethic is challenging but I must continue as my spirit depends on it.

As I venture farther and farther down the path of freedom, the gulf widens between my desire for freedom and others desire to maintain the system and continue to receive benefits and privileges from that system.  I find that the journey towards peace is not peaceful at all.  In fact, it is full of turbulence, struggles and a whole host of feelings as change disrupts many relationships that I've had over the years. 

Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.   For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the  daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother  in law. - Matthew 10:34-35

If we want freedom, it demands that we find a way to deal with the emotional implications that this disruptive path will take.  People don't like the process and may even work to disrupt it so that freedom does not take hold.  It can be a lonely path at times too as the vast majority of the people refuse to comprehend or relate to the ideas put forth with the freedom paradigm.  Years of trauma scares people from taking that leap of faith in themselves.  

I can see why it may look like a sword.  The path to freedom is not peaceful at all, even if I maintain the peace at all times.  It is violent because of the emotional plague reaction of others.  It really does set man against his father, daughter against mother.  I've witnessed it many times.  The costs of freedom may result in a complete disruption of a way of life that we have all known for our entire lives.  

When we move through the freedom paradigm shift, life may look nothing like it does now.  It should look different as freedom is not what we experience today.  To make the shift means that much of the infrastructure that we depend on may disappear.  Our lives are going to change significantly and it aught to in order to address the violence, pollution and other issues that confront us.  Change can be painful at times if we don't engage it with a healthy body, mind, emotions and spirit.  

The change that confronts us will be challenging, but could also heal and help us grow as individuals.  My wife and I have embraced the change and work hard to go with the flow rather than fight it.  We recognize that all relationships end and we don't fear saying good bye to people in our lives.  It brings great sadness and sorrow, but we will work through that in a healthy way.  There will be a lot of mourning involved as we say good bye to what we have known.  

Mourning may be the most challenging process as we explore alternatives through this transition.  My wife and I have done much of these changes on our own terms, but there will be others who will have to go through these changes on the terms of Creator or as the violence of others comes to bear down on them.  Either way, peace must prevail and the cost of that peace will be high, especially if we resist it.  

Freedom is not free.  The costs are high and we are willing to pay that price as our spirit will benefit and is in jeopardy if we don't do the work.  I chose to do the work and that means being forever vigilant.  That is why I left Facebook and decided to dedicate my time here instead.  So far it is free and peaceful.  

Forever vigilant and persistent - my life motto!