CONTINUITY AND MEANING

We see symptoms in our restless and disconnected youth and in the agin g baby-boom generation indicating that many people are having difficul ty experiencing meaning in their lives. One way to address this is to restore and create continuity in the lives of individuals beginning fr om the time of birth and proceeding throughout the passages of life. T he components of continuity are consistent and coherent child care, a sense of realness, a sense of control, a sense of past, present, and f uture, availability of spaces without fear, childrearing consistent wi th the socio-economic environment, experiential marking comprised of h istorical-cultural narrative and ongoing ritual, and communion. While it is often impassible to have all aspects of continuity present at an y one time, the successful intertwining of continuity's threads during one's lifetime can help reestablish purpose and meaning where it may have been lost.