The Food is Love Controversy

[Guest guest]

Hi Rich

 

I can remember a time circa 1970 where I was attending a wedding

(Jewish). I was at the time a practicing vegetarian and when we sat

down to eat I made it clear that I only would eat certain foods. 35

years have passed and I still and I still think about my actions.

What would Jesus have done?

 

Rich: He would have only eaten certain foods. In this day and age

it's more serviceful to be a raw vegan. You remember a small detail

from 35 years ago? I don't. If you remember something like that

from that long ago you must still be suffering from your decision not

to stick with a vegetarian diet. You can try to self-justify all you

want, but you're obviously upset with yourself for not staying with

your diet, else, why would you remember such a thing? That's a huge

problem among people, strongly remembering minor details from the

past. It keeps them from clearing space for growth towards

perfection in the present. People don't recognize this consciously,

if they thought about it, they would probably think it's a sign of

strength, to remember minor hurts in life so clearly. It's not a

strength but a weakness in the sense that these minor things keep

someone from growing in the present.

 

I have no problem not eating certain foods at an occasion, it's just

food, I'm not going to starve. I can eat wherever. If they have

something there I can eat fine, if not, I can wait till later. I'm

there for the company. People obviously overstress food at family or

friends gathering. If you observe them you can see how they cling to

the food rather than more loving behavior towards the people around

them. You can see how they'd rather dive into a cookie than learn

how to love their neighbor or family member more. I'll converse with

you some but I'm also going to get selfishly high on this addictive

food at the same time so I don't have to deal with love too much is

the behavior here. It feels painful for humans to love more so

they'd rather slow that process down and addictive food or overeating

is an easy way to do that. God gave that option to his little

children.

 

But it's a hard issue for people, like what I read in your next

paragraphs. It really seems that they're coming from a place of love

and we feel it's godlike to share in that love and so we justify

eating anything on that grounds. It's still wrong, we're not taking

our highest moral ground, we're taking the road of compromise. God

doesn't compromise with me in my life, so I don't sound very

compromising in my speech. That's okay, I'm sure I'll mellow with

age but I'll still be doing what I believe is right, a raw, vegan

diet. But I won't talk like I do now about it. This is just a stage

for me to tear through so I can get to the next level, or circle in

TUB terms. I have to go through my stages to perfection even though

I recognize that don't come across as very loving to others. There's

a lot that's not likeable about my stages to perfection to others, I

doubt if it could be any other way. I'll be happier down the road

when I come across better to people. I think God made the process

this way so that you don't want to start over by going backwards in

his will. My ability to communicate with people is so much greater

on a raw vegan diet that I'm better off staying with it in all

circumstances. Food obviously doesn't affect you in God's will like

it affects me.

 

But you wouldn't remember such a minor incident from so long ago

unless you rue that fact that you decided not to live up to your diet

standards, somewhere inside. The confusion of food for love is

something to demonstrate against, not participate in the error.

 

Someone: After reading the UB I made a vow that if I was ever

invited to

any

function I would eat everything at the table. Three weeks ago I was

invited to play golf at this local country club, at the turn the

three people I was paired with ordered hot dogs, so I also ordered

one. It was big and juicy and tasted heavenly, after the match we

all met in the clubhouse for food and drinks.

 

Rich: Taste doesn't justify killing, and if you're really clear with

your tastebuds you'll realize that meat doesn't really taste all that

good, it has qualities to it that keep it from going down easily for

one thing.

 

Someone: I was at table with 7

others, we all ordered steaks with all the trimmings, potatoes with

gravy . I suppose this was one of the best meals of dead animal

carcass I ever had. Oh I forgot I had a three ice cream banana split

for dessert. My God do those rich country clubbers eat good.

 

Rich: No they don't. But let the children play, I have nothing

against it. It's the way the simple human expresses his power, it's

his understanding of living in the image of God. And the kind God

isn't going to have anything against it for now.

 

Someone: When I am invited to sup with someone there is nothing that

I

will

not eat. At our house we rarely eat meat or process foods, so when

the opportunity comes up I dig in. Umm Yummy Yummy.

 

Rich: I don't kill myself softly for others, that's not a high

expression of love, like God wants.