Set freeBarbara H. Peterson

Farm Wars

Cutie Pie hops on the window sill and stares out at the world with a look in her eyes that sees far beyond the glass.

A look that reveals an inner yearning to fly beyond the horizon, as far as her wings can take her.

She is yearning to be free…

Cutie Pie is a tiny bird that arrived at my home with a hurt wing. Not even a fledgling. She had evidently fallen out of the nest and there was no getting her back in. So, in the house she came for rehabilitation.

Bathtub aviaryI have never nurtured such a tiny, young creature before, and it was touch and go for a while. Up every 1 – 2 hours for feedings from a small syringe filled with a homemade concoction that I put together using nothing but a wing and a prayer; Turning the bathroom into an aviary so that she could exercise her wings and get strong enough to fly; Giving her the run of the bedroom. Cages? We don’t need no stinkin’ cages! Checking on her and bringing food out to her on her first day in the tree. Watching as she grows more and more confident in her ability to fly from tree to post to fence to bush, graceful and acrobatic, not hesitating for an instant.

Scares the dickens out of me thinking of such a tiny creature on her own outside in the big unknown. I check on her constantly, and when I do, she buzzes me and talks like crazy, then buzzes off. It’s like she’s telling me about all of her adventures in the wild and wooly outdoors.

It occurs to me that I have learned something extremely valuable in this experience. And that is…

The true price of freedom is not sacrificing your children to wage war and gain control over your surroundings.

It is not about control or manipulation of those around you at all. That is the price of slavery.

The true price of freedom is confronting the unknown head on and accepting the consequences of your actions…

I could have caged Cutie Pie to protect her from the unknown. I could have kept her prisoner in the house, but that would have killed her spirit. That would have been bondage.

So, why do we trade our freedoms for security? Why do we, as a people, stand idly by while our freedoms are being taken from us daily, all in the name of safety and security? Why?

I’ll tell you why.

Because freedom is scary. Responsibility is scary. It’s easier to blindly follow and not have to think, because if you do, you might bear some responsibility for your actions.

And this is our greatest vulnerability. It’s called….

Cowardice.

Let me repeat:

The true price of freedom is not sacrificing your children to wage war and gain control over your surroundings.

It is not about control or manipulation of those around you at all. That is the price of slavery.

The true price of freedom is confronting the unknown head on and accepting the consequences of your actions…

A coward puts up a barrier and hides behind it without understanding or accepting responsibility. “Just following orders/rules/whatever.”

A coward will always look to another to point the finger of blame.

A lover of freedom understands that accepting responsibility for one’s actions is the true price of freedom.

shouler perch cutie pieThank you, Cutie Pie, for being instrumental in revealing this valuable truth to me in such a beautiful and elegant way. I will always be your mama, wherever you roam and whatever you do. And you will always have a home to come to when you want to. You have given me much more than I have given you, and I will be eternally grateful. Enjoy your freedom. I know that you would rather fly free than live in bondage, always yearning for what is right on the other side of the glass.

And that is my gift to you. The gift of letting go, and being there when you need me…

©2014 Barbara H. Peterson

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5 Responses to “The True Price of Freedom”

  1. Tonino says:

    It’s Official – Russia Completely Bans GMOs

    http://truththeory.com/2014/06/29/28209/

    “Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev recently announced that Russia will no longer import GMO products, stating that the nation has enough space, and enough resources to produce organic food.

    If the Americans like to eat GMO products, let them eat it then. We don’t need to do that; we have enough space and opportunities to produce organic food.” – Medvedev”

  2. tim says:

    I would argue we stand by because it’s scary to be first and risk losing everything. Once enough holes are in the dam, soon it breaks why open.

    In the beginning true patriots are scarce, when it involves less risk then many others will join

  3. Abe says:

    Barb,
    You nailed it!!!

  4. Rich says:

    when we remember who we are we will be free!

    AT THE PRICE OF CONSEQUENCES,
    I AM FREE TO THINK AND ACT AS I WILL.

    I am an individual being,
    a separate consciousness,
    a stand-alone intelligence,
    a creator-god in my own sphere and right.

    I am naturally subject to nature’s laws that affect me, but the consequences of the laws that are subject to my will, I decide if and when to experience them.

    No one but me is in charge of me.

    I am not a puppet with strings that can be pulled by parents, siblings, other relatives, friends, co-workers, cultural classes or governmental authorities.

    I decide what is right and what is wrong.
    I decide what to do and not to do.
    I decide why I do, or do not do, a thing.
    I decide what I value, appreciate, respect.
    I decide my opinions, perspectives and attitude.
    I decide if I will take an oath, make a vow or promise, etc.
    I decide what to believe or have faith in.

    Just because you value something, doesn’t mean I value it.
    Just because you believe or have faith in something, doesn’t mean I do.
    Just because you have a certain perspective or view, doesn’t mean I do.

    Just because I was born into a family, does not mean I value my family’s beliefs or ways.
    Just because I was born into a religion, doesn’t make it my religion.
    Just because I was born into a culture, doesn’t make it my culture.
    Just because I was born into a government, doesn’t make it my government.

    Just because someone passes laws, does not make them my laws.
    I decide if I will obey another’s rules or laws.
    I decide if I will obey the laws of a nation.
    I decide if I will become or stay a citizen of a nation.

    Just because you think something is true, doesn’t make it my truth.
    Just because you think it’s important doesn’t make it important to me.

    Though the whole world value a thing, does not mean I have to value the thing.

    If there were no people, I would only have to deal with nature’s laws.

    If there were no people, there would be no consequences from their thinking, beliefs, faiths, values, opinions and perspectives, nor their power to enforce.

    AT THE PRICE OF CONSEQUENCES,
    I AM FREE TO THINK AND ACT AS I WILL.

    And keeping in mind that,
    everyday is a good day to die,
    keeps you fearless.

  5. Alan Donelson says:

    Thank you for this sharing, Barbara. Wife and I have experienced the same, raising a starling, robin, and, then, several starlings from fledgling to freedom-lovin’ fly-aways! Recently an injured hummingbird arrived on our doorstep. We did not think to provide food other than the sugar water in the hummingbird “feeders” until too late, and we failed in our mission. After two days of our taking delight in its presence, the precious little bird passed just as we placed the order for hummingbird food. Instead of the joyful sadness of releasing birds to take responsibility for their GOD-given freedom, we grieved. Next time, we’ll have food on hand. Life is a hard teacher, I once heard, one that tests first and provides the lesson later. We love, and we learn, this past time the hard way.