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  %EMPOWER RESPONSIBLE ADULT EXISTENTIAL EXPERIENCE+930309
     %WAY SALVATION DESTINATION NARROW PATH BETWEEN+930309
 %GRIEF TRAGEDY NATURE ROOT SALVATION CONFLICT EVIL 930310

     We  suffer much grief and many tragedies  because  we
are mislead by our conceptions of  the  nature of ultimate
salvation and by our misled ultimate concerns.

     Ultimate salvation does not reside in:

     1.  Being  free of all:   doubt,  errors,  confusion,
uncertainty,  mistakes,  defects,  imperfections,   flaws,
duties,  responsibilities, work, conflict, pain,  trouble,
challenges, distress, fear, anxiety, tension, etc.

     2.  Getting, having,  owning, controlling, using,  or
abusing  all  that we may need,  want or desire;   whether
knowledge,  information,  objects,  services,   pleasures,
people, political power, influence, appearances, etc.

     3.  Receiving all the praise,  approval, recognition,
acceptance,  and respect we covet from the people we  most
want it from.

     So long as we are preoccupied,  in any way,  with the
above;  we  are unlikely to enjoy the salvation  which  we
seek.

     Ultimate  salvation  may be enjoyed only if we  shift
our attention away from the above kinds of preoccupations,
and  honestly  seek what may helpfully be pointed to  with
the following words;   taken  singly  and  in  many varied
combinations:

     Balance           Dialogue          Mutuality

     Justice           Mercy             Humility

     Listening         Hearing           Seeing

     Perception        Understanding     Feeling

     Tranquility       Serenity          Peace

     Reflection        Prayer            Reflexivity

     Forgiveness       Reconciliation    Communion

     Resolution        Truth             Honesty

     Health            Integrity         Coherence

     Respect           Tolerance         Support

     Encouragement     Security          Trust

     Liberation        Healing           Growth

     Inclusiveness     Community         Appreciation

     Being   preoccupied   with  the  former   things   in
judgmental ways  which focus upon them as signs of evil is
not much better than being  preoccupied with them as means
to salvation.

     We  will  not enjoy salvation until we  transcend our
preoccupation  with  the  former  things  and  focus   our
attention   upon   more   integrative   possibilities  and
opportunities.

     Salvation is what we seek, but often we are misled by
our disintegrative ideals,  values, attitudes, conceptions
and perceptions;  and we seek salvation in  disintegrative
ways  with  disintegrative  means.    Salvation  cannot be
enjoyed  in   the   midst   of   personal   and   communal
disintegration.  We need to talk openly and honestly about
our  experiences  of  disintegration  if  we  are  not  to
continue in them.
                                                                                                                               
                         (c) 2005 by Paul A. Smith in      
                    (On Being Yourself, Whole and Healthy)  
                                                                                                                               
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