On an overnight train from Vienna to Warsaw, I found myself face to face with the Polish border guard. With his right hand raised and with his eyes turned upward, the man uttered one single English word--- “LIBERTY.” That was the initial response from the guard when he realized that I lived in America. The word “liberty” was one of the few English words that he knew, and to this man it was a word that well represented America and its freedoms. Surprisingly, a second response followed. This time, with eyes cast down, his head slowly moving from side to side, he repeated the same word---“Liberty.” Both his countenance and his eyes told a story. He could not imagine what true freedom was like since he lived in the Communist Poland of 1986. Here was a man who longed for freedom, and it clearly showed on his face! I thought at the time that I had so little in common with that Polish guard. After all, I had grown up in a country that was free. How could I really relate to how he must be feeling? But then I realized that there was a very real time in my life where I, too, had longed for liberty! The Polish man was more honest than I was. I tried to cover up my longing for freedom by putting a smile on my face. Even though my countenance looked one way, my heart told a different story. Since childhood, I had developed a way of living, a way of thinking about myself and others that ushered me into a life of trying to please people. Whether it was my parents, teachers, or friends, I was trapped in a pattern of trying to gain love and acceptance. That meant that I had to anticipate what others would expect of me, and I learned to perform very well. This pattern soon carried over into my relationship with God. Like my family and friends, I wanted God to accept me as well. As a result, I became involved in “religion” and trying to gain approval from God. To my surprise, I learned one day that this long time pattern of pleasing people could be broken. Once a prisoner to this way of living, I could truly experience freedom in this area of my life. This became a reality for me when I learned about a God who sent His only son to die for me. As I realized what that sacrifice meant, I found myself wanting to have a personal relationship with this God who loved me so much. Whenever I’m tempted to get back in that pattern of trying to be a people pleaser, I’m reminded that my identity is no longer bound up in what I do, but in who I am in relationship to God. I know I’m His child, fully loved and accepted. With that knowledge, I can raise my hand and say, “LIBERTY,” and really mean it!