"I have noticed in my own life that people I don't like have power over me because I am always thinking about them. They preoccupy me and have control over my thinking. I find myself jealous, resentful, and vengeful. I lose peace. I am holding on to these people as my enemies. Loving our enemies is the way of becoming free of our enemies. We free ourselves by letting go, by loving them, by caring for them. One of the most beautiful things is that when we let the enemy go out of our heart by love and forgiveness, we are suddenly free to let that unlimited, all-embracing love of God pour into us. We become a new person every time we forgive an enemy, because we let go of the angry person inside who was holding on to fear. The core of our faith is to be free people – free from the power we give to our enemies, free to love every human being with the divine love that always forgives, seven times seven and seven again." Henri Nouwen

God desires us to be fully free. The Evil One desires us to be in bondage. Freedom comes from forgiveness and love. Bondage comes from holding on to past hurts with unforgiveness, anger, resentment and even revenge. Freedom comes through the grace of God to choose to love. Bondage brings about the darkness of separation from God. It is our choice whether we desire true freedom or prefer to sulk in bondage.