[Oe List ...] Salmon to Margaret

[William Salmon]

Margaret --
    	Thanks for sharing your special health concern. This is one of the blessings of our Order-in-Dispersion and the wonder of the globality of today's version of communication.    
 	How I wish there was a Lone Ranger to ride in with a silver bullet for healing, but alas my experience and personal testimony does not include such possibilities; anyway, Bultmann remindes us that God hates wish dreams. What we are left with is The Way Life Is (TWLI), and the uniqueness of our relationship to the reality of our situations; while victimized we choose to either be victims or victors. 
    	While it is nothing like you are experiencing with breast cancer, your question of "why" is frequently heard from those I counsel in jail; why was I victimized as a child: abandoned, abused, neglected, unloved?
    	The only hope that can be offered is not to define ourselves by our circumstances. We are free to define ourselves by the universality of The Christ whose demonstration of death and resurrection is the symbol of how we can choose to die to the barriers preventing us from living the abundant life "in spite of our circumstances" as well as "because of our circumstances."  
    	Perhaps, this is what you are called to do as one whose circumstances call for you to witness to the freedom to define yourself as the great woman of faith you are. 
    	Forgive me for pushing this thought in one more direction. The phrase, "of faith" needs to be grounded in something other than what can be added onto life. In this case, "faith" is nothing less than surrender to the experience of living your freedom. 
    	Does this line of thought change your situation? No, not at all. However, it has the power to transform you; something that I am certain you already affirm. 
    	There is Good News in here somewhere. I can testify that this is my prayer for you. 
    	Margaret, you are very special to all of us, and in particular to Beverly, Julie and me.
   	Inner Peace, 
	Bill Salmon

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