Show 1 Half the misery in the world comes of want of courage to s speak and to hear the truth plainly and in a spirit of love H. H 1 B B. B Stowe t 1 s 1 Perhaps Fasting Would Help Here Too s Most Americans it seems treat as a bit of humor or as i right down-right ignorance the frequent fasts engaged in by Mohandas K Gandhi as a means of bringing peace to his beloved India But in spite of the ridicule and contemptuous attitude of Americans and other nationalities the fasts seem to get results The trouble is that much of the world has forgotten that i divine directions are very numerous the calling calling the people to fast and pray in order to overcome difficulties And most of the world i i ss s s has come to look with doubt or utter contempt on such matters i as spiritual forces in treating the affairs of the world Not so with s Gandhi Sincere fasting produces a humility that puts one in tune with forces far greater than the atom bomb universal military training or other materialistic c lm powers in which men today would place their faith to bring peace to a troubled world Voluntary fasting for a just cause brings a spirit of peace and brotherhood that is so much needed in the world today Another item often overlooked by western peoples is that Gandhi is the spiritual not political leader of his people He i ione is isone isone one who believes the universe was created and is controlled by spiritual forces He knows that that- physical power and force will pass away but that spiritual forces are eternal and will vill endure forever He believes that if spiritual forces control the universe and keep keepit it functioning in perfect harmony surely those forces vi will l be potent potent potent po po- tent in settling difficulties among men If more attention were given by national and international 0 i leaders aders today to spiritual powers and not so much stress laid on material wealth and physical force the world would be much nearer nearer nearer near near- er a lasting peace All through the world Christians pray Thy kingdom come Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven But holy writ tells us The Kingdom of God is not meat and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost And they must come in just that order Righteousness first then peace and then a joy that far exceeds any happiness or pleasure known to toman man Scriptures which are but simple directions on the way the world should be managed also tell men to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and then all needed material blessings blessings blessings bless bless- ings will automatically come to mankind They also state that Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word vord that out of the mouth of God And the word of God establishes fasting as one of the divine principles on which men must rely to help bring and maint maintain in peace and well vell being That is one way every true American and every true Christian can help to bring peace to a troubled world A bit of fasting and praying in America might help far more to bring about European recovery and world peace than will vill all of our actions with ii LL h 1 U ua uJ aIr atom bombs etc These things may be necessary but they will be far more effective if coupled with a righteous cause for which men can and will sincerely fast and pray Fasting is conducive to a desire to do right and righteousness righteous righteous- ness is the first step in bringing about that peaceful condition which men mechanically but unthinkingly ask for when they pray Th Thy Y kingdom come Yes it might do the Christian world much good to follow the pattern set by that physically puny spiritual leader of India Mohandas Mo Mo- Mohandas handas K Gandhi and do a bit of fasting and praying as a means of bringing spiritual forces into play to help settle the difficulties of the world |