This-essay is a7906161.htm which is available at the web-site www.essayz.com. See more notes at the bottom. Previous-Essay <== This-Essay ==> Following-Essay By-Months By-Years By-Words Webs of Like-&-Un-Like ESSAYS <==> Like-&-UN-Like This-One ========================================================== %HELPFUL CONSTRAINTS LAW LOVE MAINTAIN TABOO+790616 %COLLUSION JUST CHOOSE APPROVE AFFIRM EDUCE 790616 People who wish to be helpful often attempt to be helpful by constraining others. They feel they can be helpful by preventing others from making mistakes. They impose constraints upon others' behavior---by passing laws, enforcing laws, supporting taboos, maintaining traditions, maintaining collusions, etc. Their intentions are honorable and respected. They often serve at great personal sacrifice. Their sincerity is beyond question. Their dedication to justice and fairness is evident. They serve with humility under the guidance of their knowledge of God. Even so, the net effect of their service is to imprison people with debilitating constraints---more than to set them free to live lives of love in uninhibited dialogue with other people. The problems originate in the spirit with which they approach other people. The spirit of love does not limit people with constraints, it opens up new possibilities which are more attractive than the more limited possibilities which are most evident to immature people. Destructive possibilities are chosen---when more attractive possibilities are not evident. Narrowing the range of possibilities for choice does not reduce the likelihood that people will choose destructive possibilities---it increases the likelihood. To decrease the likelihood that people will choose destructive possibilities---they need to be presented with a wider range for choice, rather than with a more narrow range. The spirit of love offers wider horizons, not the confines of imprisoning constraints. It is not the spirit of love which imposes constraints, but the spirit of law. The spirit of law constrains, the spirit of love sets people frees. Social approval tends to be based upon conformal standards of judgment, not upon the law of love. Approval and affirmation are not the same. Love affirms. Law approves. Love's affirmations set people free to be themselves. Law's approvals constrain people to conform. Law's approvals are implicit condemnations of non- conformity. Love's affirmations imply no possible condemnations or excommunication. There is no implicit threat in love's affirmations. There is an implicit threat in law's approval. The burden of law is heavier than is the burden of love. Law demands. Love elicits, educes, and liberally educates. Law is impersonal. Love is personal. Law deals with people as objects. Love frees people to become subjects fulfilled in personal relationships. (c) 2005 by Paul A. Smith in www.essayz.com Search for Integrity and Honesty (On Being Yourself, Whole and Healthy) ==========================================================
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