Unequivocally, the preacher assures you — salvation is yours for the asking. No matter what you’ve done – or what you may yet do – by Grace you’re saved. Pretty neat, huh? Do whatever it is you do and when the reckoning comes, flash that “Get Out Of Jail Free” card. This forgiveness deal has special appeal at maximum-security prisons where serial killers, run-of-the-mill murderers, rapists and other lost souls have ample time to establish a relationship with God.  Among law-abiding citizens, however, acceptable sin is much less apparent, hidden neatly behind a veil of respectability. But the good news is you don’t sin alone. You share the lying, cheating, stealing, adultery and all manner of other failings with the entire human race. Ah, blessed relief. Not only can you stumble from time to time, but also avoid earthly judgment. Conveniently, with biblical instructions from the preacher and with his blessing, you maintain a reciprocal agreement with your peers: Let’s cut each other a lot of slack because we all lie in the same contaminated bed. It’s not your fault. Nobody’s perfect. You’re a good person a good deal of the time. And when you do slip, out of greed or lust or ambition, why, it’s to be expected – and tolerated. You’re nothing, if not tolerant. When a sitting President fouled the Oval Office and lied about it, you may have blanched a bit; but you argue he’s a red-blooded male after all, not a saint. He didn’t do anything other real men wouldn’t, given the opportunity. Now, world leaders, celebrities, media moguls and average citizens still pay him homage. In fact, his “sin” is one of his most endearing qualities.  When a Senator lies, cheats and steals, the Senate may censure him; but the people invariably re-elect him to keep his lofty post. Sports heroes deserve special dispensation and even pity, as they struggle against overwhelming temptation that comes with money and fame. How can you judge them unless you walk in their shoes? You can’t. And you don’t (as long as they win). Close to home, no matter where you turn, the Seven Deadly Sins are having a field day. You look around – family, friends, business associates — and keep your lips tightly sealed. Who are you to cast even a grain of sand? Still, you contend, there are degrees of sin. Some people are more despicable than others; some people create pain and suffering; some people destroy lives; some people deviously use power to intimidate and subjugate; some people use wealth like a club. Sure you want to exact justice in the here and now. Is that too much to ask? “Yes, pilgrim,” the preacher says. “We are sinners, all. Judgment is left to eternity.” Well, you guess, that’s that.  Meanwhile, you will continue to cooperate in the shared guilt of being human.  But all in all, you really do need to lighten up. You’re not Christ. You can’t change the world and you certainly can have no effect on human behavior. So do whatever it is you think you want to do. If it’s something wrong, you can always say: “Everybody does it.” You can worry about judgment later. Just keep that card handy.