Today we are back to a topic we have discussed several times in recent months: what does it mean to bear one another’s burdens?  I was totally unprepared for how Bonhoeffer explains this. He says to bear another’s burden is to bear their “freedom” given to them by God.

“…it is the freedom of the other, mentioned earlier, that is a burden to Christians.155 The freedom of the other goes against Christians’ high opinions of themselves, and yet they must recognize it. Christians could rid themselves of this burden by not giving other persons their freedom, thus doing violence to the personhood of others and stamping their own image on others. But when Christians allow God to create God’s own image in others, they allow others their own freedom.

Thereby Christians themselves bear the burden of the freedom enjoyed by these other creatures of God. All that we mean by human nature, individuality, and talent is part of the other person’s freedom—as are the other’s weaknesses and peculiarities that so sorely try our patience, and everything that produces the plethora of clashes, differences, and arguments between me and the other. Here, bearing the burden of the other means tolerating the reality of the other’s creation by God—affirming it, and in bearing with it, breaking through to delight in it.” Bonhoeffer, Life Together

This thought forces us to think and pray. What does it mean, Lord, for us to give others their freedom?  How does that work when it comes to someone who is sinning and doing harm to themselves, their family, and/or us? I encourage you to think about this as you walk through this day. Think about a person with whom you clash. What would it look like to bear their freedom?

p.s. I’d love to hear your thoughts here!