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    %REHEARSAL SCRIPT PLAY WRITE ASSESS RISK CHANCE+960901
    %DANGER FEAR DISINTEGRATION ALIENATION EVIL SIN+960901
   %EXPERIENCE THEORY PERCEPTION DEFINITION FAILURE 960901

     To minimize  the chance of catastrophic  failures  in
life  we  need  to assess the risks probably  involved  in
various  alternative  courses  of action  which  we  might
decide  upon.    Decisions  made in the  absence  of  such
assessments  are irresponsible---lacking in  responses  to
the risks entailed.  We need to ask others what risks they
perceive  and respond to their responses to our questions;
i.e.,  we need to be in open and honest dialogue about the
risks entailed in various alternatives.   We and they need
to engage in imaging,  envisioning, dreaming,  rehearsing,
fantasy,   etc.---in order that we may anticipate many  of
the possible outcomes of possible decisions.  Then we need
to  be  in open and honest dialogue about the risks  which
may be entailed in various alternatives.

     As  we  consider alternatives we need  to distinguish
between  fears  of  natural  consequences---and  fears  of
dysfunctional   human  responses  which  are   alienative,
disintegrative,  immature, etc.   We need to seek balanced
insights;  avoiding the risks of being full of uninformed,
thoughtless,  raw, unfocused fear;  i.e.,  dysfunctionally
fear-full.

     We  need  to be informed by actual  human experiences
shared  and   considered  openly and honestly  within  the
context of an integrative  community  and  the insights of
integrative people.

     We need  to avoid being  preoccupied  with  assigning
blame  for mistakes made---and seek instead to learn  from
mistakes made by considering them charitably in communally
integrative ways.   Usually there is plenty of blame to go
around to many different people and to the community as  a
whole.    Rarely is it true that there is just one  person
who  rightly  should  bear  all  the  blame,   shame   and
depression.

     If,   out  of  a  concern  for  thinking  only  "pure
thoughts"  we  do  not think about possible risky ventures
ahead  of time---we  are  likely not to recognize them  as
risky   and   stumble  into  them  thoughtlessly  and   in
ignorance.

     If,   out  of  a  concern  for  thinking  only  "pure
thoughts" we seek  to  avoid all risks---we are likely  to
try  to control what we cannot control; and thus engage in
all the risks of self-deception and dishonesty.

     We will take risks of one kind  or  another.  We will
do well,   and be well,   when we seek prudently  to think
about   possible  risky  ventures  ahead  of    time---and
thoughtfully  decide to take prudent risks which hold  out
the  promise  of bearing good fruit.   We will fail if  we
seek to avoid all risks, and so seek to avoid:

             making new friends,

            trusting new friends,

               falling in love,

             conflict resolution,

                 repentance,

                forgiveness,

                and God's Love.

     True  hope  is grounded in prudent risks taken in the
faith  that  in  our  loving communities  they  will  bear
integrative   fruit   for  us  as  persons  and  for   our
communities.
                                                                                                                               
                         (c) 2005 by Paul A. Smith in      
                    (On Being Yourself, Whole and Healthy)  
                                                                                                                               
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