Today’s Independence Day feels different. Not just because of fireworks or the flag, but because the word “freedom” has a deeper meaning—not as an idea to cheer for, but as something I once had, once abused, and now deeply long for in every layer of life.
I used to take freedom for granted. I had the professional freedom to heal people, the financial freedom to live comfortably, the personal freedom to make choices without oversight. But in that freedom, I also made reckless, dishonest decisions. I chose shortcuts. I let pride and fear cloud my judgment. And eventually, I lost the very freedom I took for granted. Being indicted, spending time in jail, and now facing more prison time—those experiences have redefined freedom for me. It’s no longer just about flags or fireworks or saying what I want. It’s about integrity, accountability, and the quiet, holy gift of waking up every day with a clean conscience.
This country—the one I still love—was built on a bold and flawed pursuit of liberty. Our founders weren’t perfect, but they were willing to risk everything to break free from tyranny and live according to conviction. In my own way, I’m trying to do the same. I’m not fighting a king, but I am battling old mindsets, sinful habits, and the damage I caused by living in secrecy and self-reliance. I want to be free—not just legally, but internally. I want my soul to breathe again.
Today I also feel a surprising swell of patriotism, not because I think our country has it all figured out, but because it’s a place where someone like me—flawed, broken, facing consequences—can still find grace, faith, and the possibility of redemption. I’m grateful that this country believes in second chances. I’ve hurt people, disappointed many, and lost privileges, but I haven’t lost the right to hope, to rebuild, and to tell the truth.
So as the fireworks go off tonight and people toast to freedom, I’ll be praying for a deeper kind—the kind that’s not loud or flashy, but steady and honest. The kind that comes from living in alignment with who God made me to be. That’s the kind of independence I’m chasing now. And I believe, by His mercy, it’s possible.
