In regards to eating meat

[Monica]

I cannot thank you enough for this statement. The idea was dancing around in my consciousness without coming forward, and it helps to alleviate much of the weight on my heart.

I'm so happy to hear that!

And not necessarily because of the hierarchy you describe, which I admit I will probably still wrestle with, but because it helps me realize that to get to the point where I will not have to slaughter bugs, I might just have to slaughter a few. In a grand sense, these bugs are offering their incarnation to this very purpose.

In this context, I can go along with that. (As opposed to the flippant justification for eating animals, which I hear frequently: "Oh it's their purpose to let us kill them and eat them" which is an entirely different matter.)

And when this time arrives, maybe the lives of weeds and bugs will be in the forefront of peoples’ minds.

Exactly!

As far as the meat that I personally offer, it has to do with offering meat consumers with a sustainable, humane option. If there were not sustainable humanely raised meats for consumers to buy, they’d continue to support the old meat industry.

I understand. At this point in time, it is true that most of them would continue to support factory farming, rather than give up their meat. So your service is worthwhile, being that this is where society is at.

I envision a time when, due to education, raising of consciousness, or maybe just environmental or health necessity, people will choose to go vegetarian, rather than support factory farming.

It’s not at all that I don’t agree with your vision of a vegetarian society; I definitely see it in the future. You might secretly think “that’s kind of hypocritical” :p,

No, never once did that thought enter my mind! I don't think you're being hypocritical at all. In fact, I have immense respect for your obvious sincerity and endeavor to improve the animals', plants' and even bugs' conditions.

You might be happy to know that I only actually eat meat in 3-4 meals a week rather than 3 meals a day like many others. This particular existential quandary happened to come from the production of our produce, but this discussion has been therapeutic and has helped clear the air somewhat.

My M.O. in this discussion is to avoid offering my personal opinions about anyone's diet. That's a slippery slope! and I'd rather not go there. It's not my place to approve or disapprove of anyone.

I will say that, if everyone cut back to 3 times a week instead of 3 times a day, we'd see vast improvements in health and the environment. Not to mention a drastic reduction in violence.

Maybe you will join with the other farmers and gardeners who are pioneering new techniques for working harmoniously with the plant and insect oversouls.

I had not considered this reality, and it does excite me.

Cool!

Thank you so much, you have offered me a completely different view on my crisis. Maybe the heaviness I’ve felt lately was to remind me to keep this idea in the forefront of my mind, so when the time is right I will have the basic tools needed to help make some real changes in the way we look at weeds and bugs.

And to you! I can’t thank you enough for taking the time to type out such an incredible post. You’ve offered me some new perspectives to consider, and I’m able to relieve some of the weight on my heart. There is still much contemplation to do on my part, but this has been a very helpful discussion for me.

Adonai, Monica!

Adonai!