We often say, “We don’t have free time,” sometimes to excuse ourselves and other times to sadly acknowledge that we truly don’t have time to engage in what we’d like to do, in activities considered “free time” or even to rest and do nothing. We intuitively understand well what free time entails, and at times we may even feel guilty if we take too much time for leisure activities, as free time is evidently something we lack.

The phrase “free time” is fascinating, as it suggests a time when we are free to do whatever we want, to fulfill certain needs, a time when we are free to spend our time seemingly without purpose: sleeping, walking, traveling, meeting people casually, engaging in sports or art, or generally doing something that fulfills and relaxes us. Often, we even have to “steal” time for such activities.

But if we don’t have enough free time to do what fulfills and restores us, does that mean we are actually unfree? Indeed, we are often unfree in many ways that are imposed on us externally or internally.

The deep human need to act and be active freely stems from the fact that self-determination is a fundamental aspect of being a person. When we mention significant terms like self-determination, we often associate them with major, life-defining decisions. However, human nature reveals itself not only in such moments but also in everyday actions, especially those undertaken in our “free time.” We never cease to be human, and everything about us is equally important. It’s evident that the small, everyday decisions and what we do in our “free time” often shape our long-term outcomes, slowly but surely, guiding us in a certain direction.

More attention should be given to “free time,” and more attention should be given to freedom in general, as many people are not truly free internally, even if they have more “free time” than others. Freedom is a concept that always holds importance for humans and thus belongs to the spiritual realm. God commanded the people of Israel to refrain from work one day a week, not to restrict or take away their freedom, but to give them “free time,” to free them from the slavery of earthly principles of constant struggle for physical survival, and to liberate them for higher and deeper human needs for a fulfilled life.

Humans, however, persistently allow themselves to be enslaved and continually return to unfreedom under various pretexts. It is important to take free time. It is essential to advocate for freedom and the fulfillment of the needs of the spirit, not just those of the body, and it is even more important to correctly recognize these needs. Well-chosen leisure activities create a reservoir of satisfied needs from which our being can draw to sustain further growth and life’s journey.

Saint Michael the Archangel, to whom this church is dedicated, is God’s agent of action in the fight for freedom. He is the victor over the Enemy, who spares no effort to enslave us. Freedom is, therefore, the fundamental gift that God wishes to give us. For freedom, Christ has set us free – as the Letter to the Galatians states (Gal 5:1) – even though our broken perspectives sometimes prefer to see things differently.

Thus, if we want more “free time,” a time when we are free to act sincerely and unburdened, according to what our being truly needs and can receive and give, according to our potential and purpose, we should return more often to the sources of freedom and turn more frequently to God.