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Split People in a Split World 349

choose the correct foot and move it forward. As humans, with physical
bodies living in a physical world, permanent growth occurs when we move
ahead first with the me of Mercy identification. That is the major step.
Walking, however, involves a succession of steps. First I put one foot
forward, then the other, then the one. In order to keep going and to remain
in balance, I must move the proper foot at the right time. And, I must move
it forward the right amount—not too little and not too much. Similarly, I
suggest that human development also involves a succession of steps. First,
we start out as raw infants—bundles of feelings which do nothing.
Emotional experiences from the physical body build up the me of Mercy
identification. Then the infant turns into a toddler, and the me of the
physical body has a chance to catch up. Using the emotional identity which
was acquired as a baby, the child begins to explore the natural order of his
body and his world. About the time that the youngster gets the „hang‟ of
his physical surroundings, his hormones start flowing and he is faced with
the emotional feelings of an adult. This trauma reprograms the me of
Mercy identification, allowing him to digest the emotional memories of his
childhood. Then he gets married and has a family and must program the
me of the physical body with a whole new set of facts and skills. One
„step‟ leads to another.

Mental growth is like walking.

 The me of Mercy identification forms one „leg.‟

 The me of the physical body forms the other „leg.‟

 Only one „leg‟ can be moved forward at a time.

Growth involves planting one „leg‟ while moving the other.

 If the fixed „leg‟ is not anchored solidly, identity will „slip.‟

 If one „leg‟ moves too far ahead of the other, identity will „topple.‟

So why am I focusing so heavily upon mental transformation, which
advances the me of Mercy identification? Because, as a civilization, I
suggest that we are in the „teenage‟ phase. The dark ages of Western
Christendom initially programmed the me of Mercy identification with our
Judeo-Christian heritage. Then we discovered the order of the natural
world and spent several hundred years learning how to run and play in the
backyard of technology. Now we have reached a stage at which the me of
our physical bodies is quite highly developed, whereas the me of Mercy
identification remains back in the dark ages of our infancy. Unless we
move the other „foot‟ forward, we are going to lose our balance and crash
to the ground. However, must Western civilization collapse? Why not get
that other „leg‟ working and keep walking?
But why haven‟t we moved forward already with the me of Mercy
identification? If our physical bodies and our physical world determine that
this is the correct „foot‟ to move, then why didn‟t we move it before?