A Glass Wall and Freedom

I can see why they put a bench in front of the window.

You have a clear view of freedom. 

That's what I thought at first glance, that this view represented seeing our freedom and running after it. But the more I considered it, the more I realized it represents the exact opposite. And a pretty cruel opposite if you think about it.

Sure, you have a clear view to freedom, but do you really have it? There is a thick glass wall preventing you from getting any closer. There's a bench to entice you to sit down and look at what you can't have. There are even beautiful marble floors and a climate controlled environment trying to keep you in the box.

Something whispers that looking at freedom through the glass is just as good as freedom itself. No, more than that, it's sending you a clear message that you should be content with the beautiful view, because breaking through the glass is impossible.

The more I think about this view the more I think about the areas in my life where I've been content to look through the glass. And as I think about those areas I think, why didn't the thought of breaking through glass cross my mind?

Maybe it's because we don't typically think about breaking something beautiful. When we finally reach some form of "success," we often think that's all there is. "It was so challenging to get here, I'm happy to take a seat on the bench." 

Or maybe we never knew there was more beyond the glass. We may have never realized that breaking the glass was even an option. After all, the glass provides protection from the weather, and we know the weather can be unpredictable. "Maybe this is the better side of the glass to be on?"

I believe we all will find ourselves in this place at times in our lives. A place where we see freedom, and where we feel close enough to convince ourselves we have it, when we actually don't. We may even convince ourselves that moving forward is too risky and dangerous, and that it makes sense to stay put.

Many will settle for a seat on the bench, but I don't want that for my life, and I don't want it for yours either.

Enjoy the view of freedom.

Then grab a hammer and go enjoy the freedom itself.