“But these things did not dismay them, though they did sometimes trouble them; for their desires were set on the ways of God and to enjoy His ordinances; but they rested on His providence and knew Whom they had believed.” William Bradford - Second Governor of the Plymouth Colony

It was a necktie I couldn’t bring myself to wear all day… one of our children had purchased me a “beautiful” polyester tie she had bought for a few dollars at her school’s pop-up gift shop for Father’s Day. Forget my other ties from Brooks Brothers or Jos. A. Banks, this tie’s highly sophisticated and stylistic design was a marvel to behold; brightly colored footballs, baseballs, soccer balls and more, as well as flames, oh how the flames made this new tie the "pièce de résistance” to my professional attire.

As much as some people would lead us to believe otherwise, freedom to do as we please is not true freedom. The perception of autonomy bringing happiness lends itself to addictive practices, loneliness, isolation, and torpedoing relationships. Who likes to be in a relationship with someone who is self-centered?