Freedom and Nothing Left to Lose

Kris Kristofferson died this week. He wrote the song “Me and Bobby McGee” that Janis Joplin made famous. The lyrics to that song contain one of the most important aphorisms of popular music: “Freedom’s just another word for nothing left to lose.” What do these words mean? Freedom is liberation from what holds us down, from our mental and physical slavery, from the fear of letting go. And freedom is also wrapping our arms around the people and things we love, reaching out to those to whom we bind ourselves because we need each other.

I don’t actually believe in complete freedom, nor do I believe in there ever being a time when there’s nothing left to lose. No equilibrium ever lasts. Everyday, sometimes every hour, we must ask ourselves what oppresses us and whom we oppress. Whom or what do we serve? Who loses when we win?

This week the Jewish world marks the New Year, Rosh Hashanah. There has been so much lost in the past year and so much is left to lose in the year ahead that it’s only with fear and trembling that we can stand before ourselves and whomever we see as our Maker. And yet we still have choices which can bring more light into the world, choices that might make for more joy not only in our own individual lives, but in the lives of others. We can ask if we have done all we can to free as many people as we can free. Have we done our most and best to rid ourselves of the bonds that keep our hearts small while binding ourselves to the people and things and ideas that make our hearts large?

Everyone has to answer these questions for themselves. Who for freedom and who for fear? Who by fire and who by “nothing left to lose.” When I’m done in this world, I’ll be good and done. But I intend to ensure that I keep asking these questions until then, even if I cannot fully answer them, because for me these are the questions essential to being alive, to being renewed, to taking a leap at freedom and having nothing left to lose. Even in the worst of times, there are choices and changes and chances and an urging particularly in this moment to nurture freedom in whatever I touch and know inside and outside of the realms I call home.

Kris Kristofferson wrote and Janis Joplin sang in “Me and Bobby McGee” that “He’s lookin’ for that home, and I hope he finds it.” This lyric inspires my absurd but honest Rosh Hashanah prayer for everyone, wherever and whenever, if that’s not too much to ask: Everyone should have a home and everyone should find it. Everyone willing to truly do their very best to limit the losses while protecting what’s good and true should find a way – unexpectedly, miraculously, and for the good – to win.