Hi Linda C, You have hit the key point in this little discourse: ============================================================= And really, is that any surprise? Who are we as humans to think the only things that exist are the ones our little human minds can comprehend and explain? Isn't that a little pompous? ============================================================== There is much our minds can't comprehend and/or explain, as has been proven time and again as one theory falls and another one rises in its ashes. One of the HUGE mistakes we often fall into believing is that we CAN understand everything and CAN control everything, and CAN create our own reality. How foolish we are to think, regardless of whether we believe in a Creator God or Karma, or Quantum Physics, that WE are actually in control of our universe, or that we are the only intelligence that exists! For example, do we know that WE are levitating, passing objects through glass, remote viewing, controlling others, etc., or are we, in fact, opening ourselves up to outside control much greater than what we ourselves possess? It's kind of like giving a small child matches, teaching her how to light them, and then sending her out into a field of dry grass with a box of matches to play. Sure, she knows how to light the matches, but does she understand fire or know how to control it? The chances are she's going to get burned and do a lot of property damage and damage to others as well. She believes without any doubt that she can use the matches, but she doesn't understand what she's doing, with tragic results. Believing by itself is NOT enough, no matter how strong the belief. Accurate understanding and knowledge must accompany the belief. Be careful - it's a big universe sitting in a sea of infinity... God bless, Dave

Hi Dave; I sure do enjoy your posts... ================= How foolish we are to think, regardless of whether we believe in a Creator God or Karma, or Quantum Physics, that WE are actually in control of our universe, or that we are the only intelligence that exists! ================= Did you ever hear of the marshmallow study? In the 60's an experiment was done at Stanford University. Psychology researcher Michael Mischel wanted to demonstrate how important self-discipline is. A group of 4 year old children were seated at tables. In front of each child was placed one jumbo, soft fluffy marshmallow. (Marshmallows were a novelty & treat for kids back then... lol) The kids were told that they can eat it right away if they want - but if they can wait 20 minutes, they can have two. About 1/3 ate the marshmallow right away. Another 1/3 waited a bit, but couldn't last the 20 minutes. Roughly 1/3 of the kids lasted the 20 minutes and got two. Those kids were tracked for 20 years. As adults, the 1/3 that had waited the 20 minutes had more successful marriages, higher incomes, greater career satisfaction, better health, and more fulfilling lives than the other 2/3. I like to think that the universe, or God, or whatever people call that which is bigger than us has given us the same opportunity. But, instead of a marshmallow, our rewards come in return for that which we give and project. Like the tuning fork, what we attract is affected by what we project. Like the farmer, we reap what we sow. And, in the bigger picture, it is not about us and other people. It is about us and that which is greater than ourselves. Yin and yang. Good and bad. Right and wrong. We can not have one without the other. But, we can choose which road to walk. Yin or yang. Good or bad. Right or wrong. That's what I like to think, anyway... : ) L

Howdy Linda, You asked: ============= Gravitate: 1. To move in response to the force of gravity. 2. To move downward. 3. To be attracted by or as if by an irresistible force Which one do you mean? lol ============== I was being literal - in the sense of the discussion, that is. So - 1. How can I move otherwise? (Oh, oh. That might spark this discussion off all over again.) See what you do when you: =============== (just giving you the gears a little) =============== Just imagine if I reached across and grabbed that steering wheel! LOL! In any event, there have been many interesting responses here. Gary

Hi Cheri, In response to your question: ================= "It can't be possible that you took my last comment literally, can it? Someone teach me how to put a wry-faced smiley in my posts...the one I used didn't do the job I intended it to." ================= No my dear. I just thought that the wording needed some... wait for it... I have deliberately not used this word for some time here... ... epexegesis. I did it just to keep the flow of the discussion on track for those who might have come in late on the conversation. I didn't want them to think I was actually "attracting negative websites." That would not be true. I don't "attract" them. But I am cognizant of them. To recognize Christ does one deny the existance of the devil? (Dave... an opening for you, perhaps.) Yin and yang. That is what life is all about. Sure, we can choose to "see" much more positive over negative. That is a CHOICE which, I think, was the point that Linda M, was putting across. And that is a wonderful outlook on life. However, in my opinion, to deny the very existence of all that is foul and evil in this world is fraught with danger. Cheri, JFYI, I always match the comments with the characteristics and personality of what I know about the author. I detect certain styles. So when such a comment is "out of synch" with what I believe is in the normal modus operandi (I was gonna say "head and heart") I normally seek clarification. I knew you were being playful but others (lurkers) may not have. Hence, my epexegetic addendum. OK.OK.OK. I am over-cooking that word again. I know! Just to further clarify. Cheri, I like and respect you very much - in a cyberial sort of way, that is. Just thought I'd let you know that. Now everyone else does too. Oh well, such is life. Regarding those smiley things... I detest them. That is why I rarely, if ever, use them. But I get the gist of what they are about, nevertheless. Regards to you all. Hope I have cleared up a few things. But, alas, I suspect more discussion is on the way... Gary.

Hi; I'm not Cheri... but thought I'd chime in anyway.. ======================================== I just thought that the wording needed some... wait for it... I have deliberately not used this word for some time here... epexegesis. ======================================== Why not just say "let me explain a bit better...." - then everyone can understand. lol ======================================== in my opinion, to deny the very existence of all that is foul and evil in this world is fraught with danger. ======================================== Indeed. But there is a difference between "denying the existence of" and "not focusing attention on"... ie; my Google example in a previous post. We all know there is foul and evil... as well as greed, selfishness, outright lies, overblown egos and every other negative, annoying, and even dangerous thing out there. We accept they exist. We don't deny that. At least most of us. To focus on them, though, just eats our own brain. ;) Linda