“I would like to see a time when man loves his fellow man, and forgets his color or his creed. We will never be civilized until that time comes.” —Clarence Darrow, Attorney at Law; Trial Attorney.

When we hear and use the word freedom, how are we defining freedom? Freedom can be described in many ways depending on the individual and our relationship to freedom. A woman or man who is in an abusive relationship, wants freedom from the abuse. A person who is working side by side with another person providing the same work and both are performing their jobs well, is receiving less income because he or she is a certain sex, may yearn to be free of prejudice and unequal pay. There are many scenarios we can find ourselves in when our inner cry is for freedom from a stifling situation.

Of course, the human spirit wants to thrive in an atmosphere where it can reach its full potential. I believe that is in our human DNA and within our divine Spirit—to be all we can be. Even in saying this, we know of circumstances where the very inequality has awoken a sleeping spirit within a person—and they have risen to great heights in spite of their depressing conditions.

There is a love of freedom within our human-divine makeup. We crave freedom by nature. As an attorney for the so called underdogs of society, and as attorney Darrow stated it, “Attorney for the Damned” — which happens to be the title of one of his books — Darrow dedicated his legal practice to representing people who were being treated unfairly—the folks in society who were not judged by the same standards as other people. Clarence Darrow and the people he defended wanted freedom from injustice in matters pertaining to the law and societal limitations.

Attorney Darrow believed in the “law of love” and disdained the “law of hate.” The law of love has its roots planted in spiritual law, the higher universal laws written in our hearts. Spiritual laws exude freedom and liberty for all—a freeing of the chains and negative beliefs that bind and suppress the human spirit.

The funny thing is Clarence Darrow considered himself to be an agnostic. He remained unfettered by religious dogma and realized an innate truth within himself—the love of justice and the right to freedom for all and any human being.

We crave freedom. Let’s celebrate the liberated spirit that lives in us. To tune into our indwelling spiritual nature—let it have a voice. How can we further freedom in ourselves and in how we as individuals conduct our lives? The divine law states “as I give it is given.” Am I living from a freedom consciousness unimpeded by fixed labels, secret agendas or assumptions in my interactions and relationships with self or people? Am I loving from a spirit of love?

In choosing to live by the law of love, in realizing we each want to be respected, loved and crave freedom to be who we individually are, requires a person to love and respect oneself and to grow in the practice of living from a loving consciousness. There are plenty of people who have accomplished this in life. Martin Luther King, Jr. was one of them. John Lennon may have been another—of course that is a personal observation. The people who put themselves in harm’s way each day to rescue and preserve life come from love. Those among us who rescue and/or report abuse to animals, act from love. When we help anyone who is in harm’s way, it is an act of love.

Jesus, as it is depicted in the gospels, lived from a loving consciousness. He revealed the great capacity of love within the human being—within every single human whether obvious or not.

In our passion to live and thrive in freedom, let us know it is a sister and brother of love. As we promote and foster freedom to be all we can be for ourselves and one another, let it be a desire springing from a consciousness of unconditional love.