[Bruce Paine]

lighthouse25,

Okay, so "God Bless You!". is a very sacred expression to you but it appears to me that many to most Christians use it to complete a communication with friends and acquaintances, kind of like saying, "Good Luck".

The POTUS (President of the United States) always says "God Bless", when finishing addressing the public.

You as he, must realize that every one that you bestow your God's blessing on, do not believe as you do.

MI feel that, many believe in a "Creator", many others don't, and even, many others don't know what to believe.

Christians appear to me to be the most aggressive believers in the world, having gone far away to fight wars and conquer peoples in other places in the name of "God" and "Christ".

I find it interesting, that, the only apparent evidence of "God" communicating with humans is written about in the "Holy Bible" and other "sacred books" of other religions, which were all written by humans.

"God", according to Christians (and certain other believers) apparently has had an active interest in all people, but the way I see it, hasn't been active recently, showing himself to humans like described in earlier days in the Holy Bible.

A skeptic could easily consider that either "God" has forsaken his people, is too busy in other parts of the universe, or does not exist.

A non-religious Taoist, I see life evolving and a infinite universe constantly materializing and dematerializing, but I don't see a supreme personality behind it all, though I do see many people expressing their belief in that universal personality.

So, I imagine who I'm referring to when I reply to someone who bestows upon me a "God Bless You!" is their "God", when I return a "God Bless You!" to them.

If anyone requires that I believe in their "God' and possibly the same way when they express their "God Bless You!" to me, I feel that they are being just too pushy with their belief system.

I feel that either a believer gives and receives a "God Bless You!" without question and without determining the belief and faith of the person one is bestowing it upon or receiving it back from, or it's meaning diminishes (like conditional love).

When I talk about people quoting "Scripture", I'm not just referring to you but to anyone who comes to the macrobiotic discussion sites with an attitude that suggests that either everyone is already a believer, or that they should be.

When I talk about what I spiritually believe, I'm not expecting others to change their beliefs to mine but instead hope that they find within me certain qualities which they also have within themselves, as I try to do with them.

Besides seeking to connect with others, I'm also looking for solutions to problems, and I come to these macrobiotic discussion groups to try to share with others with what I know, and also, help the macrobiotic community grow.

I don't need to see everyone in the world become a yin/yang quoting macrobiotic, before I can rest, but instead, I wish to see macrobiotics establish a big enough foothold in the world that it can become and continue to be easily accessible to any and everyone who wishes to have access to it.

I like to say "I don't need for everyone to become macrobiotic, in a matter of fact I would be happier if one seventh of the World's population were macrobiotic, but I would like everyone to know about it, so that if they ever need it, they will know what it is and how to get it and use it for their own and everyone's benefit"

So to me, macrobiotics is about sharing, not pushing.

I moved into this house (where I am presently staying) because it was available with a gas stove, close to my work, and the owner/housemate was/is receptive to natural foods.

Since I've been here I've cooked almost every day and this guy has been eating more and more of my food, has quit drug use and he has gotten back into his meditation, big time.

I did not push it at him but he decided to stop using psychoactive drugs and made the house and property a drug-free zone shortly after I moved in, and stopped eating eggs soon after, and quit drinking black tea months afterwards and his life and mission has come a lot clearer to him.

I feel that if we take a chopping wood and carrying water approach to macrobiotics by practicing and sharing with those around us when they inquire, then the situations will improve gradually, and with longer lasting results.

On the other hand if we try to evangelize or prozelytize everyone we meet, many will get defensive and most will never show an interest.

So the point I am making is that we can either take the peaceful, gentle approach to change or we can take the more aggressive, pushy form of change.

And I choose the more peaceful approach.

Do you understand what I am saying?

If you believe in something and it contributes to your life and it's betterment, you will improve and others will become attracted to you and wish to emulate you.

But if you have a belief that you want others to have and you just push it at them, most people will back away and avoid you and you will be left with just yourself and those that believe as you do.

Most of the time, "nature" changes gradually and provides changing circustances that humans can work with.

Humans on the other hand often are aggressive, doing destructive things to "nature" and then are surprised that "nature" does some destuctive things to humans.

I believe, that one can live a peaceful, balanced, conscious life and life will maintain it's balance and when it goes out of balance, you can sidestep or work with the un-balance until it comes back into balance, again.

Thank you, very much.

Bruce Paine