True Freedom

Freedom is not the ability to do whatever we want. As Americans and people of the post-modern era we like to think it is. "If it makes you feel good, do it" we say. But doing what we want all the time ends in regrets. Our children want to eat candy all the time, but if they did, they may have no teeth and be so wound up, they will agitate each other.
So what is true freedom? True freedom lies in our ends or in our purpose. The purpose of a thing determines what is good for it and what is bad for it. For us, it determines what is good and virtuous. This is our freedom in the means. In this way we come to our purpose and hence fulfillment (Freedom of the ends). Ice creme is made for human consumption (ends). When this happens, there is joy! But why is there joy? Because the ice creme has come to it's fulfillment. In the same way, when we come to our fulfillment (Heaven), there is joy!
Like anything else that has a purpose, directions must be followed through the freedom of the means. It is best to follow the directions of the one who made it. How many times do we disregard the instruction of a manufacturer only to break something or have to put it together ten times before we surrender to the instructions? God made us. So we need to follow His directions. If we choose not to follow the directions to make spaghetti and refuse to put water in the pot, we will end up with a burnt meal. In the same way, if we do not follow the directions God gives us, we end up getting burnt. This hurts. Nobody likes to get burnt.
Unfortunately, we tend to deny our source of instructions and then wonder why we hurt so much. We do what we want, but only to our detriment. Therefore; if all freedom is, is to do whatever we want, then how can it be such a great good? We use our "freedom" to do evil. Rather, when we do what helps us come to fulfillment and do good and act in virtue, we are empowered to be the person we want to be. We come to our fulfillment and there is joy!