I and Thou: A Free Write

By Clint Wilson

Writing for Ministry

October 20, 2015

Introduction

Note: This paper was written with my eyes closed, so to speak. We were tasked with reading a book, choosing a part, and writing whatever came to mind—whether or not it made sense. We were not allowed to edit the paper in any way. Here is what flowed from my mind in the span of about five minutes.

Reflections on Buber’s Concept of Destiny and Freedom

Reading through Martin Buber’s I and Thou was challenging for me. As someone who is not a strong reader, I often had to go back and reread passages to grasp their meaning. However, one concept that stuck with me was when Buber wrote, "Destiny and freedom are solemnly promised" (page 53).

Ironically, 53 is also my favorite number, but I digress. Buber stated that "only a man who makes freedom real to himself meets destiny." This concept bewilders me, and I find myself pondering the deeper meaning of his words. Is he suggesting that by truly embracing freedom—freedom from all things—we can finally meet our destiny? There seems to be a deep religious undertone to this idea.

How many of us are truly free from the bondage we carry—the pains, the hurts, and the hang-ups of our lives? What if we were able to shed all of that and place complete faith in God? Would we then experience true freedom? And if we achieved that freedom, could we then meet our destiny?

Freedom and Destiny: A Paradox

Buber goes on to suggest that freedom and destiny are intertwined, linked together in meaning. This confounds me even more. If they are linked, how can one be reliant on the other? How can destiny only be realized when true freedom is achieved? Wouldn’t the inverse also be true—that freedom can only be attained when we realize our destiny?

Earlier in the text, Buber described the devil as one who did not decide against God but, in eternity, came to no decision. This makes me think: perhaps the devil never found his freedom because he was unable to grasp it. As a result, his destiny was met, but not the destiny he might have chosen. This leads me to wonder: isn’t everything destined? How can we have destiny only with freedom? Wouldn’t we still have a destiny without freedom?

The Role of Christ in Freedom and Destiny

As I continue to reflect, it begins to make sense. The only way to achieve the destiny we desire is to have true freedom. Without this freedom, our destiny may not be what we want—just as the devil’s destiny was not what he may have hoped for. True freedom comes through Christ Jesus, which seals our destiny as one that is desired. Without accepting Christ, we cannot experience true freedom, and our destiny becomes that of the devil.

By not accepting Christ, we remain undecided, just as the devil did. In this sense, we are all like the devil until we take the step of accepting Christ and making that decision. The decision to be truly free leads to a worthy destiny: everlasting life, which is the destiny we all long for.

Conclusion

This free write has been an exercise in exploring Buber’s ideas and their connections to faith. While challenging at times, the process has helped me see the profound link between freedom and destiny in the context of Christian faith. It reinforces the importance of making a deliberate decision to embrace Christ, thereby achieving both true freedom and a fulfilling destiny.