July 23, 2025 • 42 mins
Dan welcomes his friend and mentor Cai who shares stories from his recent sailing trip through the Gulf Stream to the Abaco Islands in the Bahamas.
• Dan discusses his recent trip to Florida with his son, including a visit to an animal sanctuary
• Both reflect on seeking peace and purpose away from society's chaos
• Conversation explores how different religions often fight over the same God
• Kai distinguishes between religion (with rules) and spirituality (relationships between spirits)
• Discussion about how organizational corruption affects pure religious messages
• Cai emphasizes helping others as both men share examples of service
• Exploration of Jesus's two commandments: loving God and loving your neighbor
• Cai reframes love as an action word rather than just an emotion
• Discussion about having a two-way relationship with God rather than treating God "like a rich uncle"
• Final wisdom on staying humble: "It's pretty hard to teach a guy something he thinks he already knows"
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
with.
We're back with the dailyamerican and I got my good
friend and kind of like a fatherfigure to me, kai, on the line.
Kai reporting from tampa bay,how are you, sir?
Speaker 2 (00:14):
hello dan I'm well thanks and you're doing good
happy wednesday to you happyhump day.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
You just got back from a um, from a sailing trip,
correct?
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Yeah, it was about 300 miles of slow cruising from
Key West to the northeastportion of the Bahamas known as
the Abaco Islands, but it wasvery nice.
We were on the Gulf Stream fora couple of days and then
entered the Little Bahama Bank,had a nice anchorage at a place
(00:50):
called Great Sail Key andanother night at Spanish Key and
then finally into around theoutside Whale Key and down to
Marsh Harbor, which is where theboat is, uh, stationed now at
the nice marina there was alovely, lovely experience quiet,
(01:10):
wind.
We did a lot of motoring, but uh, the crew got along well, we
ate well and it was verypleasant man, that's awesome
just to be out there on thewater now.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
The golf stream.
You said you so, so what doesthat mean exactly?
You, you get stuck in the in,in the stream of, of the, the
gulf of.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
I don't know, explain it well the uh what used to be
the gulf of mexico, which is nowthe gulf of America.
Thanks, to.
Mr Trump.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
I'm still calling it the Gulf of Mexico, but all my
conservative Republican buddieshave something to say about it.
But you know what?
I think it's playing into thesame thing the left side does,
and I don't like that.
But then I find out it's abusiness decision, so we can
drill, drill, baby drill thegulf of mexico.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
I don't know the gulf of whatever?
I don't really care, yeah, meneither.
The water.
The water flows out of thereand from the lower, uh, western
caribbean, and it pushes warmwater up through the Straits of
Florida, which are defined bythat little body of water
(02:29):
between the Florida Keys and theWestern Bahamas, and up the
coast of Florida to north ofPalm Beach and a little bit past
there, and then the Gulf Streameventually meanders out into
the open Atlantic betweenBermuda and the North American
(02:49):
coast and it kind of dissipatesover off the coast of Scotland
someplace, wow.
But, and the water is warm,it's typically about 80 degrees
or 78, at least, you know, allyear long, even in the, you know
, even in the colder Atlantic.
(03:09):
And they say that there areactually some palm trees that
grow in Scotland as a result ofthe warm climate that Gulfstream
provides as it sort of dumpswarm water off the coast.
There there's a few palm treesgrowing, so not coconut palms,
but you know, some othersubtropical varieties.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
Wow, that's incredible.
Yeah, I would love to get outto Scotland.
Unfortunately, we missed eachother while I had just I just
got back from a trip down inyour area for a week with with
my, my son and his mother, andit was.
It was amazing man, it was.
It was just great.
We stayed in Crystal Lagoon forabout five days and then the
(03:58):
last two we went off to ananimal sanctuary, kai, and it
was just like cool man, justlike fought, like foxes and wolf
dogs and, and you know thesebeautiful and where was that?
this was in?
Um what road was it?
(04:19):
Trail trail, trebilly Road itwas called.
Oh, I can't even remember.
Now my memory's gone Kai, it'sshort-term memory issues, but.
I'll get you the name of it, butpretty much it was an animal
sanctuary where they, you know,like there was a domesticated
(04:40):
deer there that literally, um,you could hand feed there were
some very rare sheep like Ithink there was three out of 12
of them in the entire world ofthis certain kind of sheep, um,
that they were trying to breedthere, tons of birds, peacocks,
(05:06):
and then, like a undomesticatedor, you know, an uncaged peacock
, a male one, because the malesare the ones that look like
super beautiful with all thesecolors and the females kind of
look plain.
And I guess that's how they,you know, the, the males, the,
(05:27):
the females, attracted to themale with the most feathers and
the most colorful, or or whathave you but this?
one this one was, um, was notlike part of their sanctuary,
but he just hangs out there, uh,with, like the other ones, uh,
what other cool horses?
Um, you know, it was just, itwas just peaceful, it was.
(05:51):
It was awesome.
We did a little tour of the.
It's a small sanctuary, um, andby small I mean probably like a
couple acres, but it was cool.
They had like a, a couple, umlittle little houses that you
could stay in and it was onlylike 65 bucks a night man.
(06:14):
I wish I would have stayed therelonger than than staying in in,
um, the crystal lagoon orwhatever that, that area, but
because it's it's less populatedand it was just strictly peace.
Kai, that's what I'm lookingfor, that's what I want to do.
I, I uh, I'm actually met withthe usda afterwards and to try
(06:35):
to figure out about some, somefarming programs, um, that they
they have going on, and I and Istart school friday for to
learning, like, the basics offarming, because I just want a
couple acres and, you know, afew animals and just raise my
family on on the piece of a farm, rather than this insane
(06:57):
society that we live in.
Well, it's not so bad, but youknow.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
Well, I wouldn't blame you for that.
Give the young ex-Mikey alittle experience with nature
and regular life.
There's plenty of time to becorrupted when people grow older
and have access to Internet andall that.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
Yeah, yeah.
Yeah, you're certainly right,but overall it was a great trip.
Yeah, you're certainly right,but overall it was a great trip.
And now I'm just back to workand focusing on heating and air
conditioning sales, along with acouple of side projects.
I have going on and primarilyjust focused on raising my son.
(07:43):
Things are going really wellwith his mother and, yeah, I
mean I'm super grateful.
I just, you know, I still gettrapped in my head a lot.
You know that's going to happen, but I know how to.
You got to take action whenthat happens.
You can't just sit there andand lull away.
You got to do somethingpositive and change your thought
(08:05):
process and obviously idlehands are the devil's workshop.
So I'm working on my mental aswell.
But you know I've learned a lotfrom you, that's for sure, on
your 50, 57 years, or howeverold you are on this earth 50, 57
years or however old you are onthis earth Older than I planned
(08:29):
on being, don't forget to makeyour gratitude list.
Yeah, I know, I know, I know,and I was going to text you this
morning yet, but I have beenhitting my knees, though, and
saying my prayers every morningand you know, leading Bernadette
(08:50):
and little ex Mikey to.
You know, he's too young still,but he sees us, you know.
We get on our knees, we say aquick prayer and thank him at
night.
And you know I dude, I love thatkid so much, so everything's
now.
Now everything is like is worthit.
(09:11):
Now I'm looking back at all themoney I blew, but you know I'm
not dwelling on it, I just knowthat you know things are
different now and I won't beparticipating in gambling like a
degenerate anymore or drinkinglike a rabid beast yeah, and
(09:33):
just trying to keep my mindstraight and one foot in front
of the other and trying not tofigure out this whole life thing
, because I'll tell you what man.
You just turn on the news oreven have a conversation with a
negative person and it's likegosh, just shut the fuck up, you
(10:00):
can't get away from itsometimes.
Speaker 2 (10:03):
No, we met with a barrage of it on a daily basis.
It's not good for the mentalityor the psyche or for our inner
spirit.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
Right, but we can, we do have the option to minimize
the negativity by changing ourenvironment or turning off the
television, or staying off thesedumb phones, because, you know,
all it is is just junk.
Speaker 2 (10:38):
Yeah, we get fed more of that bad information and all
that other crap that we don'tneed to be exposed to.
I've been leaving it alone alittle bit.
I was checking some headlinesearlier.
But I look at that littleheadline and I don't even I
can't read even the articlebehind it anymore.
I just don't really care.
(10:58):
You know some idiot in Congressis complaining about the other
idiot in Congress.
You know they idiot in Congressis complaining about the other
idiot in Congress and you knowthey argue like school children
and I just don't really care.
Yeah, I don't have a life tolive and things to do.
Speaker 1 (11:16):
Exactly.
I mean I couldn't agree more.
You know I got this book.
You know I got this book.
I am interested in in, inreligion as a whole, just
because of all the different,all the different religions and
how devout some of them are,that they're willing to die in
the name of what they thinkthey're dying for, for good
(11:39):
causes and fighting otherreligions.
And it's just like I got gotthis book Religions for Dummies
just to like.
I haven't even opened it yetbecause it's like the same, it's
almost the same thing, like I'mpretty sure everybody's
fighting over the same God.
And it's just like man hascorrupted so much.
(12:00):
Man just corrupted.
It's crazy.
You know money gets involved inorganizations and you know
rules get made and you followthese rules and you'll go to
heaven.
And it's like man, all thishogwash.
And then there's so many peoplethat are so devout to it and
it's like have you ever openedyour eyes to like anything else,
(12:23):
or your ears in that matter?
I don't mean any disrespect topeople of certain faiths, but
it's just people get stuck intheir ways so easily and it's
because it's the environmentthat they're used to their
entire lives, just passed downgeneration to generation.
Speaker 2 (12:44):
Well, you're not wrong about that, and my take on
it is God is pure and withoutfault and defect, man not so
much, no.
So when man gets involved asthe representative,
self-appointed representative orsalesperson for the one and
(13:09):
pure God, there's a pretty goodchance that man's character
defects are going to get a holdof him, and then that will
change how the presentation ismade.
And so religious wars are notreally fought over religion as
(13:30):
much at least my take on it isnot fought over religion as much
as man's character defects, hissense of pride and his greed
and his need to be right andyou're wrong and all this other
crap, and his need to be rightand you're wrong and all this
other crap.
I could never understand howthe Catholics and the
Protestants were all the timefighting one another.
(13:51):
They work out of the same book.
There's not much difference.
Except if you look at history,like in particular in France,
and I think it was the 14th or15th century.
You know, the famous CardinalRichelieu, I think his name was,
you know, was trying to coverfavor, curry favor with the king
(14:15):
and exert his influence, favorwith the king and exert his
influence, and the uh, theprotestants who were known as
huguenots.
Uh, they were, you know, hadtheir own thing.
They were trying to be leftalone, but they had their own
leadership, and so the conflictsevolved.
But it's it's not so much atleast my take on it is, it's not
(14:38):
so much over my religion'sbetter than your religion, it's
just, I want power and I don'twant, let you want, to share it
with you.
So therefore, you know, I'llexert my influence, and that's
just what people do.
It's always been like that andit always will be.
Speaker 1 (14:55):
Yeah, even man's nature yeah, even dating back to
, I guess, yeah, this predates,um, that reform, reformation or
whatever the frick it's called.
But the roman catholics, andthen the eastern orthodox, they,
they split off and and, uh, youknow, same thing, they didn't
(15:16):
want to report to the pope, andand the pope didn't want to
share the power, and you know.
And then you had—.
And they're still like that tillthis day.
You know, you got the RomanCatholic Church and then you got
the Eastern Orthodox, whichtraditionally is east right, so
east of your.
Russia and I don't know,probably some other countries.
(15:37):
Probably a lot of them weresplit when the USSR was around.
I mean, it's just like I can'teven keep up, but there's so
many different denominations.
Yeah, it's ridiculous.
And you know, I just had a.
My old squad leader came on.
He's a, he's a LDS member.
He's the least person I wouldthink would join a church period
(15:57):
, but you know he's.
He's the least person I wouldthink would join a church period
, but you know he's a solid dude.
But now he's getting involvedwith the LDS.
All I know about the LDS isthere's the FLDS and then the
LDS FLDS.
They had a Netflix documentaryabout the LDS, I guess was the
original.
I guess this guy, whoever theleader was, you know Jesus
(16:22):
visited him in America or in adream or something and he wrote
a book.
He was a prophet.
But anyhow, they have thesepromotions on social media of
these good-looking chicks thatyou click, and I told this story
on today's podcast that cameout.
(16:42):
You click them and it'sclickbait.
But then they knock on yourdoor and my retarded Marine
buddy, who you've talked tobefore, he clicked on it because
he's on a search for God aswell and he puts my address in
because he parks his truck in mydriveway and he was there, so
(17:04):
he puts my address in.
Next thing, you know, knock,knock, knock.
These two good-looking girlsare knocking at my door and I'm
thinking, oh, this is great,maybe I'll.
No, you know, I was respectfuland they gave me the Book of
Mormon and you know, they tellyou, you know, pray about it and
(17:30):
you know, the truth will cometo you this, that and the third.
But like you know, it's likethe mind's a very powerful tool.
I'm one to believe that if youpray for anything, you can
manifest it through the power ofGod.
And you know, I'm not sayingthe LDS is right, I don't know
(17:51):
anything about the FLDS, exceptthat Netflix documentary where
they it's called like Sweet Prayand Obey.
It's called like sweet pray andobey.
And you know there's there's abig I think the Mormons are
known for for a lot of themhaving these girls said that no,
they don't, they don't partakein multiple wives or anything
like that, which, hey, I don'tsee a problem with that.
(18:13):
Necessarily Multiple wives, Imean, if anything, that would be
a, that would be a good thingfor somebody like myself that
tends to want more, but as ofnow I'm content with my son's
mother.
I guess the bottom line is youknow, who knows what the truth
is about all these differentsects, unless you dive in and
(18:37):
you live in them.
Obviously there are some onesthat are, you know, very odd to
certain people, but it's thesame perception that those
participating in it have againstanother religion.
So it's like I don't know man,it's all very, very confusing.
(18:59):
I don't know man, it's all very, very confusing.
But yeah, I mean, I justbelieve in myself personally,
one God, and I think he's theGod of Abraham.
Major Abrahamic religions havemanifested on their own a way to
(19:22):
cause divisiveness and war andhate through man and through
corruption and through money andgreed and power, just like
we're talking about.
But what the hell do?
I know, I'm just a villageidiot Kai.
Speaker 2 (19:42):
Well, the truth is not really knowable, Right?
And anybody who thinks theyknow it are probably not right.
Speaker 1 (19:50):
Yeah, yeah, no, that's true.
Speaker 2 (19:55):
We might know it when we die, but we certainly won't
know it when we're alive.
Speaker 1 (20:00):
Yeah, so, and then dreams itself.
Man, dreams are, are, are, are.
Just sometimes I wonder if, ifthis I know this is going to
sound weird, but if this is thedream, and when we're asleep is
when you're actually alive.
Speaker 2 (20:20):
Well, I don't worry about it.
I try not to get all up in myhead about those things and just
try to help another human being.
Don't drink and go to meetingsand clean house.
Trust God and help others.
Speaker 1 (20:39):
Yeah, that's certainly the philosophy you
live by, and it works.
I'm all about helping otherhuman beings and currently not
drinking, thank God, orpartaking in any of that
nonsense.
But I don't, you know,participate in meetings nearly
(21:03):
as much as I should.
But, like you always say, Iknow where to find God at
meetings and, you know, usuallysober-minded people, like-minded
people they're all good people.
I just sometimes, you know, Ithink that that's like another,
(21:23):
it's almost like another.
I know it works and I don'tmean any disrespect to to
anybody that attends meetings,but I know it works and and I
just feel like that's like awhole, that's like another
religion, it's like another.
You know, it's like anotherform of of gathering of of
(21:44):
people, um, all with a commongoal.
Now, that common goal is a verygood common goal, um, but you
know, I I think sometimes we allare connected directly to God
and following those principlesthat are key for anything good
in your life helping others andreaching out to your hand,
(22:08):
whether it's the homeless guy orthe addicted man who needs help
.
And I've been helped in thepast and I should do a better
job helping people.
But I preach hypocrisy.
Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 2 (22:28):
You know the, the, uh , the dream state might be
interesting, but you can'treally help somebody when we're
dreaming we're on the matrix,kai.
Speaker 1 (23:02):
We're trying to get out of the matrix here, trying
to escape the matrix, yeahwhatever, it's all strange, but
it really is.
but you know wisdom that comesis, but you know wisdom that
comes from you, man, you've beendoing this for for many more
(23:26):
years than than I have, so Itake, I take what you say.
You know, I always gravitatetowards the older gentlemen, no
matter where I'm at, becausethey've lived longer and they
have more wisdom and liveusually by better principles,
because they've made mistakesand have learned from them.
And you know.
Speaker 2 (23:50):
Well, the main thing is, when I think about it Dan
and you and I have talked aboutthis a little bit previously
it's about being spiritual, orhaving spirituality, as they say
, more than being religious.
A religion can encourage that,but they're kind of two
(24:15):
different things.
Religion sort of has rules thatgoes with it, you know
conventional religion andspirituality does not.
And what spirituality really isis the relationship between
your spirit what's inside of youand my spirit, which is inside
(24:36):
of me, or the spirit with anyother living breathing human
being, between you and ex mikeyand and bernadette and uh.
You know parents, friends,people on the street and how,
how our spirits react, inter,interact with one another and
(24:56):
how we we help one another.
And I've been helped many timesby strangers and by people who
had no real reason to help me.
They were just nice and uh andI try to pass that on now like
this young fellow, uh dan cameon the sailing trip with him.
(25:17):
Dan is 27 or 8 years old andhe's never been to the Bahamas
before.
So I fixed it up so he could goon this trip and helped him
with his expenses, because youknow he's a young guy, he's got
a kind of a regular job.
He can't afford to be taking aweek off work and buying
expensive plane tickets and allthat.
(25:38):
So I helped him because otherpeople helped me when I was his
age and you know we just pass iton.
And as a result, you know, Ifeel better about myself, I have
a little bit of self-esteem andyou know, just being generous
(25:59):
to others, yeah, wherever theopportunity presents itself.
Speaker 1 (26:07):
Yeah, that's awesome that you did that, kai.
Yeah, I mean I got to do moreof that, but you know I'll help
anybody realistically.
I mean, my landlord was diggingholes and putting up a fence
and I happened to be off fromwork that day and I just said,
(26:30):
hey, can I help you?
And he's like 77.
And you know he's a Greek guyand he's in damn good shape and
you know I just helped him.
I dug some holes for him.
I did whatever I could.
Anytime I see somebody doinganything physical and if I have
(26:51):
free hands, do you need a handEspecially an older lady or
gentleman coming out of thegrocery store carrying bags, I
try to put them before myself.
Um, but I don't.
I can't say I do it, I do itall the time, um.
And then you know I get hit upfor money and anytime I can give
(27:13):
, I give it, I.
They usually all pay me back,so it's not really giving or
anything.
And then any proceeds from thispodcast I do donate to 501C3,
combat veteran organizationshelping with mental health and
stigmas and the DAV, disabledAmerican Veterans.
(27:35):
I'm going to cut them a checkthis week for a lifetime
membership of veterans.
I'm going to cut them a checkthis week for a lifetime
membership.
Um, and you know, I, I, butnowhere near is how much I
should donate.
Oh, according to, I guessyou're supposed to give one I
don't know what it is one 10thor something, maybe that's what
I tell myself 10% to tocharities and donations.
(27:55):
But I don't, I don't, I don'tdo that, um, but I definitely
give way more than 10% away to,you know, my, my son's mom and
and, uh, you know, anybody whoreally needs, needs help.
But I don't donate it toorganizations.
Speaker 2 (28:14):
No, charity begins at home and we have to take care
of your family first.
That that's a requirement, andthen, after that, you can't be
charitable to others at theexpense of our family.
Yeah, you're right, that's onlyyou know, reasonable,
(28:35):
reasonable common sense, yeah,and anyway, the you know this.
I was having a conversationlast night with one of my AA
friends that was over, you knowwhen you were talking about
religion.
Aa is about a search for anunderstanding of God, and it's
(29:00):
the search that's interesting,interesting.
And so I look for clues and Ilook for experiences and things
that might lead me in adirection to begin to understand
how this mysterious God powerworks.
Religion never did that for me.
(29:21):
I went to church when I was akid and I'm not a thorough Bible
reader, but I'm familiar withthe usual simple things.
You know the Psalms andRevelations and the beginning
stuff in it, but those arestories and they have meaning to
them.
If we dig into it, the search,it's a little more
(29:48):
individualized, and so I beginto see how, from my experience,
how this, this power hasinteracted with me and helped me
in my life.
Some of it has been quitedramatic and miraculous in ways
that I wasn't really expecting,and so whatever explanation
(30:12):
might be for that in the Bible,I don't know, but it kind of
doesn't matter.
The point is smooth.
The deal is that it's clear tome that there exists a power in
the universe, a God of myunderstanding, that is very
benevolent and kind and lovingand very helpful, but it
(30:36):
requires that I do certainthings in order to, you know,
stay in the relationship.
You know, stay in in therelationship.
I don't.
I try not to treat God like arich uncle.
Treat him more like you know,god needs my help as much as I
need his or hers, as the casemay be whoever, and so you know.
(31:02):
The question then becomes whathave I done for God today?
Have I, have I done anything tohelp this kind and loving power
source?
Or am I just treating God likea rich uncle?
Speaker 1 (31:17):
Right, which many people definitely do.
I've probably been, I mean, nota rich uncle, but definitely
like just a father figure.
I mean, your perspective ispretty unique on God, kai.
It always has been.
I look at it just as you know.
(31:39):
I think that there's I divedeep into it Multiple pathways
to heaven, based off of theirindividual beliefs and how
they're living, A little bit ofreincarnation, but I don't know.
But, more importantly, jesus wasdefinitely on this earth, he
walked this earth and hismessage wasn't, you know,
(32:02):
organizing all these churchesand do all this.
He picked sinners or those thatwere afflicted and, in today's
day and age, those that would belooked down upon by society,
and he picked those as hisdisciples.
And for those to follow him,that was the church, just his
(32:23):
small gathering, and it grew andgrew, but then organizations,
or just his, his, his smallgathering, and it grow and grow,
but then organizations, or, or,you know, corruption and money
got involved and created.
You know, you know Catholicism,but his message was just very,
it was very clear, and his twogreatest commandments was just
to love the Lord, thy God, withall your heart, mind and soul,
and love your neighbor, and, and, and you know, that's, that's,
(32:47):
that's pretty much what I.
I'm really bad at the secondpart of it, which seems like
you're really good at it.
So that's probably why we're,you know, we're we, we bounce
off each other.
But yeah, I mean, those werehis two commandments and if
everybody did just love theirneighbor and then love God I
mean realistically what they'reor Jesus' message was pure as
(33:11):
well, and it's like therewouldn't have been all this
nonsense.
And you know, unfortunatelyit's all written and there's a
lot more wrath to come from myperspective.
But you know, I do see theloving God, but there's also got
to be.
You know, there's the otherside of what's to come, and it's
(33:33):
not necessarily God I mean, heis in control of it, but I guess
it's because they say we won'tturn away from our wicked ways
as a society and war againstbrother against brother and
nation against nation, and youknow.
But what do I know?
It could just all be, maybeyou're, you're 100 right with it
(33:55):
and and I'm 100 wrong, but who?
Who the heck knows?
The point of this podcast is toshare unique perspectives on um,
on both, and to to open theminds of of people with
interesting conversations.
Well, that's what we do.
That's exactly what we do, kai.
I uh, you know it's getting,it's getting late here.
(34:19):
If, um, I hit the sack earlynow, kai, because I I'm up at
like I'm crack when I mean crackof dawn, like I'll be up around
3, 30 in the morning I'll I'lldo a little reading.
I'll first I'll hit my knees,then I'll do a little bit of
reading and then I'll work out,um, make like a shake or
(34:40):
something, and then work on someside projects and then off to
off office.
I go for an honest day's workand then, you know, I repeat,
but I wanted to ask you if youhad a last piece of advice or
one last story or anything forthe audience.
What would it be?
Speaker 2 (35:06):
you think of love as an action word.
Okay, the two commandments tolove thy God and love your
neighbor.
Well, is that just an emotionalfeeling?
No or are you performing an actof love?
(35:26):
Yeah, and what?
Performing an act of love?
Yeah, and what would that actof love be?
Yeah, no, you're right, and so Iwould say that love is more
about behavior than aboutemotion, sure, and so.
(35:48):
So if I'm going to perform anact of love for my neighbor may
not need it every day, but if Isee him it might be.
You know, like you know my, mynext door neighbor, I take the
trash bins if he's not home andI put his trash bins away.
Or, uh, you know, it doesn'thave to be your next door
neighbor, it could be theneighbor that lives across town.
(36:11):
You run into the gas station,open the door for somebody
carrying, you know, packages ordrinks or something, and be
helpful along the way.
And the same would be true.
If I'm gonna love God, then Ihave to do some action step that
would help God and his desires.
(36:33):
Yeah, well, you know, whatwould that be?
What have I done for God today?
Well, that would be my help.
Is you know all powerful andcan do everything?
Not true, I don't think.
I think God needs our help.
Yeah, he certainly needs ourhelp in an AA room, that I know
(36:54):
for sure.
Speaker 1 (36:57):
Yeah, yeah, there certainly is.
Yeah, there's nothing besidesgood people filled in those
rooms.
Speaker 2 (37:02):
Yeah, so you know, people helped me when I went
there to get sober and have abetter life, and so I need to
pass that on and help others whocome behind me, and so that
would be helping God.
Speaker 1 (37:21):
Yeah, and that's exactly what you do, Kai.
So you're on to something,that's for sure.
Speaker 2 (37:30):
And the last part, if you think about it's often
talked about having arelationship with God, which is
different than just thinkingthat God's there.
Okay, great, but what do I do?
Relationships have two peoplein it.
Therefore, if God's doingsomething for me, I need to do
(37:53):
something for God, and that'spartly what prayer and
meditation where that comes in,because that's a little bit of a
conversation.
You can't have a goodfriendship with somebody if you
never talk to them, right, yeah,right.
So if you talk to somebody andcommunicate every day and find
out what they need and, you know, be helpful along the way, and
(38:18):
so it turns out, I think andthis is just me that my
relationship with my fellows istantamount to my relationship
with God, because my fellows areall of God's children.
It would be counterintuitivefor me to think that I was all
(38:44):
right with God if I was busybeing mean to his children or
lying, cheating and stealingfrom them.
Speaker 1 (38:51):
Right.
Speaker 2 (38:52):
But if I'm good to his children when the
opportunity presents itself,then there's a fair chance that
I will be on good terms with theGod of my understanding.
Speaker 1 (39:04):
Yeah, I mean that makes perfect sense as well,
because if you're lie-stealingand cheating from anybody,
obviously you're not living byeven human standards, let alone
God's standards.
Speaker 2 (39:23):
And even if I'm not actively lying, cheating and
steal, if I'm just being selfish, you know, and inconsiderate, I
don't have time to help thatperson, I don't know, forget
them, I'm just not going to makemyself available, whereas the
(39:49):
neighbor or the person or fellowcitizen or one of God's kids,
that means I'm not available tobe helpful if I'm too busy
thinking about myself and doingself-serving things.
So anyway, if you ask for afinal comment, I would just say
(40:11):
you know, love is about action,and take good, loving actions
toward all those that weencounter, even if it's just a
simple smile at the checkoutlane, and God will be very happy
with us.
Speaker 1 (40:27):
Yeah, I think so.
I agree.
I agree with that, Kai, and thesearch never ends.
You know that relationshipnever ends, Because if we're not
searching, then we're notreally that interested in.
You know, God, If we're notsearching right, if we're not
(40:53):
trying to figure out, you knowthe meanings of Scripture, or
the meanings of relationships,or the meanings of love, like
you just explained.
You know, then you know, Idon't know, I think the human,
and I love your concept on thehuman relations we got to do
(41:17):
both.
Speaker 2 (41:18):
Well, Dan, we know what the wise man said it's
pretty hard to teach a guysomething he thinks he already
knows.
So if I think I have all theanswers, then don't bother me.
Right, and to be kind, andremember that kindness is the
(41:40):
language that a blind man cansee and a deaf man can hear.
Speaker 1 (41:44):
That's right.
Yep, be kind, especially tothat's right.
Yep, be kind.
Speaker 2 (41:47):
Especially to those less fortunate.
Yep.
Speaker 1 (41:52):
Especially to those that are less fortunate, Alright
Kai.
Speaker 2 (41:57):
Good talk, Dan.
Thank you so very much.
Thanks for thinking of me.
Speaker 1 (42:01):
Of course Always I will talk to you soon and thank
you for coming on.
The Daily American, my friend.
Yep, talk to you soon and thankyou for coming on.
The Daily American, my friend.
Speaker 2 (42:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (42:08):
Well, you know.
Speaker 2 (42:08):
I love you and I love your listeners.
So there you go.
Speaker 1 (42:12):
You're the man guy.
I love you too.
Speaker 2 (42:15):
All right, All the best Dan Thanks.
with.
We're back with the dailyamerican and I got my good
friend and kind of like a fatherfigure to me, kai, on the line.
Kai reporting from tampa bay,how are you, sir?
Speaker 2 (00:14):
hello dan I'm well thanks and you're doing good
happy wednesday to you happyhump day.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
You just got back from a um, from a sailing trip,
correct?
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Yeah, it was about 300 miles of slow cruising from
Key West to the northeastportion of the Bahamas known as
the Abaco Islands, but it wasvery nice.
We were on the Gulf Stream fora couple of days and then
entered the Little Bahama Bank,had a nice anchorage at a place
(00:50):
called Great Sail Key andanother night at Spanish Key and
then finally into around theoutside Whale Key and down to
Marsh Harbor, which is where theboat is, uh, stationed now at
the nice marina there was alovely, lovely experience quiet,
(01:10):
wind.
We did a lot of motoring, but uh, the crew got along well, we
ate well and it was verypleasant man, that's awesome
just to be out there on thewater now.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
The golf stream.
You said you so, so what doesthat mean exactly?
You, you get stuck in the in,in the stream of, of the, the
gulf of.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
I don't know, explain it well the uh what used to be
the gulf of mexico, which is nowthe gulf of America.
Thanks, to.
Mr Trump.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
I'm still calling it the Gulf of Mexico, but all my
conservative Republican buddieshave something to say about it.
But you know what?
I think it's playing into thesame thing the left side does,
and I don't like that.
But then I find out it's abusiness decision, so we can
drill, drill, baby drill thegulf of mexico.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
I don't know the gulf of whatever?
I don't really care, yeah, meneither.
The water.
The water flows out of thereand from the lower, uh, western
caribbean, and it pushes warmwater up through the Straits of
Florida, which are defined bythat little body of water
(02:29):
between the Florida Keys and theWestern Bahamas, and up the
coast of Florida to north ofPalm Beach and a little bit past
there, and then the Gulf Streameventually meanders out into
the open Atlantic betweenBermuda and the North American
(02:49):
coast and it kind of dissipatesover off the coast of Scotland
someplace, wow.
But, and the water is warm,it's typically about 80 degrees
or 78, at least, you know, allyear long, even in the, you know
, even in the colder Atlantic.
(03:09):
And they say that there areactually some palm trees that
grow in Scotland as a result ofthe warm climate that Gulfstream
provides as it sort of dumpswarm water off the coast.
There there's a few palm treesgrowing, so not coconut palms,
but you know, some othersubtropical varieties.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
Wow, that's incredible.
Yeah, I would love to get outto Scotland.
Unfortunately, we missed eachother while I had just I just
got back from a trip down inyour area for a week with with
my, my son and his mother, andit was.
It was amazing man, it was.
It was just great.
We stayed in Crystal Lagoon forabout five days and then the
(03:58):
last two we went off to ananimal sanctuary, kai, and it
was just like cool man, justlike fought, like foxes and wolf
dogs and, and you know thesebeautiful and where was that?
this was in?
Um what road was it?
(04:19):
Trail trail, trebilly Road itwas called.
Oh, I can't even remember.
Now my memory's gone Kai, it'sshort-term memory issues, but.
I'll get you the name of it, butpretty much it was an animal
sanctuary where they, you know,like there was a domesticated
(04:40):
deer there that literally, um,you could hand feed there were
some very rare sheep like Ithink there was three out of 12
of them in the entire world ofthis certain kind of sheep, um,
that they were trying to breedthere, tons of birds, peacocks,
(05:06):
and then, like a undomesticatedor, you know, an uncaged peacock
, a male one, because the malesare the ones that look like
super beautiful with all thesecolors and the females kind of
look plain.
And I guess that's how they,you know, the, the males, the,
(05:27):
the females, attracted to themale with the most feathers and
the most colorful, or or whathave you but this?
one this one was, um, was notlike part of their sanctuary,
but he just hangs out there, uh,with, like the other ones, uh,
what other cool horses?
Um, you know, it was just, itwas just peaceful, it was.
(05:51):
It was awesome.
We did a little tour of the.
It's a small sanctuary, um, andby small I mean probably like a
couple acres, but it was cool.
They had like a, a couple, umlittle little houses that you
could stay in and it was onlylike 65 bucks a night man.
(06:14):
I wish I would have stayed therelonger than than staying in in,
um, the crystal lagoon orwhatever that, that area, but
because it's it's less populatedand it was just strictly peace.
Kai, that's what I'm lookingfor, that's what I want to do.
I, I uh, I'm actually met withthe usda afterwards and to try
(06:35):
to figure out about some, somefarming programs, um, that they
they have going on, and I and Istart school friday for to
learning, like, the basics offarming, because I just want a
couple acres and, you know, afew animals and just raise my
family on on the piece of a farm, rather than this insane
(06:57):
society that we live in.
Well, it's not so bad, but youknow.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
Well, I wouldn't blame you for that.
Give the young ex-Mikey alittle experience with nature
and regular life.
There's plenty of time to becorrupted when people grow older
and have access to Internet andall that.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
Yeah, yeah.
Yeah, you're certainly right,but overall it was a great trip.
Yeah, you're certainly right,but overall it was a great trip.
And now I'm just back to workand focusing on heating and air
conditioning sales, along with acouple of side projects.
I have going on and primarilyjust focused on raising my son.
(07:43):
Things are going really wellwith his mother and, yeah, I
mean I'm super grateful.
I just, you know, I still gettrapped in my head a lot.
You know that's going to happen, but I know how to.
You got to take action whenthat happens.
You can't just sit there andand lull away.
You got to do somethingpositive and change your thought
(08:05):
process and obviously idlehands are the devil's workshop.
So I'm working on my mental aswell.
But you know I've learned a lotfrom you, that's for sure, on
your 50, 57 years, or howeverold you are on this earth 50, 57
years or however old you are onthis earth Older than I planned
(08:29):
on being, don't forget to makeyour gratitude list.
Yeah, I know, I know, I know,and I was going to text you this
morning yet, but I have beenhitting my knees, though, and
saying my prayers every morningand you know, leading Bernadette
(08:50):
and little ex Mikey to.
You know, he's too young still,but he sees us, you know.
We get on our knees, we say aquick prayer and thank him at
night.
And you know I dude, I love thatkid so much, so everything's
now.
Now everything is like is worthit.
(09:11):
Now I'm looking back at all themoney I blew, but you know I'm
not dwelling on it, I just knowthat you know things are
different now and I won't beparticipating in gambling like a
degenerate anymore or drinkinglike a rabid beast yeah, and
(09:33):
just trying to keep my mindstraight and one foot in front
of the other and trying not tofigure out this whole life thing
, because I'll tell you what man.
You just turn on the news oreven have a conversation with a
negative person and it's likegosh, just shut the fuck up, you
(10:00):
can't get away from itsometimes.
Speaker 2 (10:03):
No, we met with a barrage of it on a daily basis.
It's not good for the mentalityor the psyche or for our inner
spirit.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
Right, but we can, we do have the option to minimize
the negativity by changing ourenvironment or turning off the
television, or staying off thesedumb phones, because, you know,
all it is is just junk.
Speaker 2 (10:38):
Yeah, we get fed more of that bad information and all
that other crap that we don'tneed to be exposed to.
I've been leaving it alone alittle bit.
I was checking some headlinesearlier.
But I look at that littleheadline and I don't even I
can't read even the articlebehind it anymore.
I just don't really care.
(10:58):
You know some idiot in Congressis complaining about the other
idiot in Congress.
You know they idiot in Congressis complaining about the other
idiot in Congress and you knowthey argue like school children
and I just don't really care.
Yeah, I don't have a life tolive and things to do.
Speaker 1 (11:16):
Exactly.
I mean I couldn't agree more.
You know I got this book.
You know I got this book.
I am interested in in, inreligion as a whole, just
because of all the different,all the different religions and
how devout some of them are,that they're willing to die in
the name of what they thinkthey're dying for, for good
(11:39):
causes and fighting otherreligions.
And it's just like I got gotthis book Religions for Dummies
just to like.
I haven't even opened it yetbecause it's like the same, it's
almost the same thing, like I'mpretty sure everybody's
fighting over the same God.
And it's just like man hascorrupted so much.
(12:00):
Man just corrupted.
It's crazy.
You know money gets involved inorganizations and you know
rules get made and you followthese rules and you'll go to
heaven.
And it's like man, all thishogwash.
And then there's so many peoplethat are so devout to it and
it's like have you ever openedyour eyes to like anything else,
(12:23):
or your ears in that matter?
I don't mean any disrespect topeople of certain faiths, but
it's just people get stuck intheir ways so easily and it's
because it's the environmentthat they're used to their
entire lives, just passed downgeneration to generation.
Speaker 2 (12:44):
Well, you're not wrong about that, and my take on
it is God is pure and withoutfault and defect, man not so
much, no.
So when man gets involved asthe representative,
self-appointed representative orsalesperson for the one and
(13:09):
pure God, there's a pretty goodchance that man's character
defects are going to get a holdof him, and then that will
change how the presentation ismade.
And so religious wars are notreally fought over religion as
(13:30):
much at least my take on it isnot fought over religion as much
as man's character defects, hissense of pride and his greed
and his need to be right andyou're wrong and all this other
crap, and his need to be rightand you're wrong and all this
other crap.
I could never understand howthe Catholics and the
Protestants were all the timefighting one another.
(13:51):
They work out of the same book.
There's not much difference.
Except if you look at history,like in particular in France,
and I think it was the 14th or15th century.
You know, the famous CardinalRichelieu, I think his name was,
you know, was trying to coverfavor, curry favor with the king
(14:15):
and exert his influence, favorwith the king and exert his
influence, and the uh, theprotestants who were known as
huguenots.
Uh, they were, you know, hadtheir own thing.
They were trying to be leftalone, but they had their own
leadership, and so the conflictsevolved.
But it's it's not so much atleast my take on it is, it's not
(14:38):
so much over my religion'sbetter than your religion, it's
just, I want power and I don'twant, let you want, to share it
with you.
So therefore, you know, I'llexert my influence, and that's
just what people do.
It's always been like that andit always will be.
Speaker 1 (14:55):
Yeah, even man's nature yeah, even dating back to
, I guess, yeah, this predates,um, that reform, reformation or
whatever the frick it's called.
But the roman catholics, andthen the eastern orthodox, they,
they split off and and, uh, youknow, same thing, they didn't
(15:16):
want to report to the pope, andand the pope didn't want to
share the power, and you know.
And then you had—.
And they're still like that tillthis day.
You know, you got the RomanCatholic Church and then you got
the Eastern Orthodox, whichtraditionally is east right, so
east of your.
Russia and I don't know,probably some other countries.
(15:37):
Probably a lot of them weresplit when the USSR was around.
I mean, it's just like I can'teven keep up, but there's so
many different denominations.
Yeah, it's ridiculous.
And you know, I just had a.
My old squad leader came on.
He's a, he's a LDS member.
He's the least person I wouldthink would join a church period
(15:57):
, but you know he's.
He's the least person I wouldthink would join a church period
, but you know he's a solid dude.
But now he's getting involvedwith the LDS.
All I know about the LDS isthere's the FLDS and then the
LDS FLDS.
They had a Netflix documentaryabout the LDS, I guess was the
original.
I guess this guy, whoever theleader was, you know Jesus
(16:22):
visited him in America or in adream or something and he wrote
a book.
He was a prophet.
But anyhow, they have thesepromotions on social media of
these good-looking chicks thatyou click, and I told this story
on today's podcast that cameout.
(16:42):
You click them and it'sclickbait.
But then they knock on yourdoor and my retarded Marine
buddy, who you've talked tobefore, he clicked on it because
he's on a search for God aswell and he puts my address in
because he parks his truck in mydriveway and he was there, so
(17:04):
he puts my address in.
Next thing, you know, knock,knock, knock.
These two good-looking girlsare knocking at my door and I'm
thinking, oh, this is great,maybe I'll.
No, you know, I was respectfuland they gave me the Book of
Mormon and you know, they tellyou, you know, pray about it and
(17:30):
you know, the truth will cometo you this, that and the third.
But like you know, it's likethe mind's a very powerful tool.
I'm one to believe that if youpray for anything, you can
manifest it through the power ofGod.
And you know, I'm not sayingthe LDS is right, I don't know
(17:51):
anything about the FLDS, exceptthat Netflix documentary where
they it's called like Sweet Prayand Obey.
It's called like sweet pray andobey.
And you know there's there's abig I think the Mormons are
known for for a lot of themhaving these girls said that no,
they don't, they don't partakein multiple wives or anything
like that, which, hey, I don'tsee a problem with that.
(18:13):
Necessarily Multiple wives, Imean, if anything, that would be
a, that would be a good thingfor somebody like myself that
tends to want more, but as ofnow I'm content with my son's
mother.
I guess the bottom line is youknow, who knows what the truth
is about all these differentsects, unless you dive in and
(18:37):
you live in them.
Obviously there are some onesthat are, you know, very odd to
certain people, but it's thesame perception that those
participating in it have againstanother religion.
So it's like I don't know man,it's all very, very confusing.
(18:59):
I don't know man, it's all very, very confusing.
But yeah, I mean, I justbelieve in myself personally,
one God, and I think he's theGod of Abraham.
Major Abrahamic religions havemanifested on their own a way to
(19:22):
cause divisiveness and war andhate through man and through
corruption and through money andgreed and power, just like
we're talking about.
But what the hell do?
I know, I'm just a villageidiot Kai.
Speaker 2 (19:42):
Well, the truth is not really knowable, Right?
And anybody who thinks theyknow it are probably not right.
Speaker 1 (19:50):
Yeah, yeah, no, that's true.
Speaker 2 (19:55):
We might know it when we die, but we certainly won't
know it when we're alive.
Speaker 1 (20:00):
Yeah, so, and then dreams itself.
Man, dreams are, are, are, are.
Just sometimes I wonder if, ifthis I know this is going to
sound weird, but if this is thedream, and when we're asleep is
when you're actually alive.
Speaker 2 (20:20):
Well, I don't worry about it.
I try not to get all up in myhead about those things and just
try to help another human being.
Don't drink and go to meetingsand clean house.
Trust God and help others.
Speaker 1 (20:39):
Yeah, that's certainly the philosophy you
live by, and it works.
I'm all about helping otherhuman beings and currently not
drinking, thank God, orpartaking in any of that
nonsense.
But I don't, you know,participate in meetings nearly
(21:03):
as much as I should.
But, like you always say, Iknow where to find God at
meetings and, you know, usuallysober-minded people, like-minded
people they're all good people.
I just sometimes, you know, Ithink that that's like another,
(21:23):
it's almost like another.
I know it works and I don'tmean any disrespect to to
anybody that attends meetings,but I know it works and and I
just feel like that's like awhole, that's like another
religion, it's like another.
You know, it's like anotherform of of gathering of of
(21:44):
people, um, all with a commongoal.
Now, that common goal is a verygood common goal, um, but you
know, I I think sometimes we allare connected directly to God
and following those principlesthat are key for anything good
in your life helping others andreaching out to your hand,
(22:08):
whether it's the homeless guy orthe addicted man who needs help
.
And I've been helped in thepast and I should do a better
job helping people.
But I preach hypocrisy.
Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 2 (22:28):
You know the, the, uh , the dream state might be
interesting, but you can'treally help somebody when we're
dreaming we're on the matrix,kai.
Speaker 1 (23:02):
We're trying to get out of the matrix here, trying
to escape the matrix, yeahwhatever, it's all strange, but
it really is.
but you know wisdom that comesis, but you know wisdom that
comes from you, man, you've beendoing this for for many more
(23:26):
years than than I have, so Itake, I take what you say.
You know, I always gravitatetowards the older gentlemen, no
matter where I'm at, becausethey've lived longer and they
have more wisdom and liveusually by better principles,
because they've made mistakesand have learned from them.
And you know.
Speaker 2 (23:50):
Well, the main thing is, when I think about it Dan
and you and I have talked aboutthis a little bit previously
it's about being spiritual, orhaving spirituality, as they say
, more than being religious.
A religion can encourage that,but they're kind of two
(24:15):
different things.
Religion sort of has rules thatgoes with it, you know
conventional religion andspirituality does not.
And what spirituality really isis the relationship between
your spirit what's inside of youand my spirit, which is inside
(24:36):
of me, or the spirit with anyother living breathing human
being, between you and ex mikeyand and bernadette and uh.
You know parents, friends,people on the street and how,
how our spirits react, inter,interact with one another and
(24:56):
how we we help one another.
And I've been helped many timesby strangers and by people who
had no real reason to help me.
They were just nice and uh andI try to pass that on now like
this young fellow, uh dan cameon the sailing trip with him.
(25:17):
Dan is 27 or 8 years old andhe's never been to the Bahamas
before.
So I fixed it up so he could goon this trip and helped him
with his expenses, because youknow he's a young guy, he's got
a kind of a regular job.
He can't afford to be taking aweek off work and buying
expensive plane tickets and allthat.
(25:38):
So I helped him because otherpeople helped me when I was his
age and you know we just pass iton.
And as a result, you know, Ifeel better about myself, I have
a little bit of self-esteem andyou know, just being generous
(25:59):
to others, yeah, wherever theopportunity presents itself.
Speaker 1 (26:07):
Yeah, that's awesome that you did that, kai.
Yeah, I mean I got to do moreof that, but you know I'll help
anybody realistically.
I mean, my landlord was diggingholes and putting up a fence
and I happened to be off fromwork that day and I just said,
(26:30):
hey, can I help you?
And he's like 77.
And you know he's a Greek guyand he's in damn good shape and
you know I just helped him.
I dug some holes for him.
I did whatever I could.
Anytime I see somebody doinganything physical and if I have
(26:51):
free hands, do you need a handEspecially an older lady or
gentleman coming out of thegrocery store carrying bags, I
try to put them before myself.
Um, but I don't.
I can't say I do it, I do itall the time, um.
And then you know I get hit upfor money and anytime I can give
(27:13):
, I give it, I.
They usually all pay me back,so it's not really giving or
anything.
And then any proceeds from thispodcast I do donate to 501C3,
combat veteran organizationshelping with mental health and
stigmas and the DAV, disabledAmerican Veterans.
(27:35):
I'm going to cut them a checkthis week for a lifetime
membership of veterans.
I'm going to cut them a checkthis week for a lifetime
membership.
Um, and you know, I, I, butnowhere near is how much I
should donate.
Oh, according to, I guessyou're supposed to give one I
don't know what it is one 10thor something, maybe that's what
I tell myself 10% to tocharities and donations.
(27:55):
But I don't, I don't, I don'tdo that, um, but I definitely
give way more than 10% away to,you know, my, my son's mom and
and, uh, you know, anybody whoreally needs, needs help.
But I don't donate it toorganizations.
Speaker 2 (28:14):
No, charity begins at home and we have to take care
of your family first.
That that's a requirement, andthen, after that, you can't be
charitable to others at theexpense of our family.
Yeah, you're right, that's onlyyou know, reasonable,
(28:35):
reasonable common sense, yeah,and anyway, the you know this.
I was having a conversationlast night with one of my AA
friends that was over, you knowwhen you were talking about
religion.
Aa is about a search for anunderstanding of God, and it's
(29:00):
the search that's interesting,interesting.
And so I look for clues and Ilook for experiences and things
that might lead me in adirection to begin to understand
how this mysterious God powerworks.
Religion never did that for me.
(29:21):
I went to church when I was akid and I'm not a thorough Bible
reader, but I'm familiar withthe usual simple things.
You know the Psalms andRevelations and the beginning
stuff in it, but those arestories and they have meaning to
them.
If we dig into it, the search,it's a little more
(29:48):
individualized, and so I beginto see how, from my experience,
how this, this power hasinteracted with me and helped me
in my life.
Some of it has been quitedramatic and miraculous in ways
that I wasn't really expecting,and so whatever explanation
(30:12):
might be for that in the Bible,I don't know, but it kind of
doesn't matter.
The point is smooth.
The deal is that it's clear tome that there exists a power in
the universe, a God of myunderstanding, that is very
benevolent and kind and lovingand very helpful, but it
(30:36):
requires that I do certainthings in order to, you know,
stay in the relationship.
You know, stay in in therelationship.
I don't.
I try not to treat God like arich uncle.
Treat him more like you know,god needs my help as much as I
need his or hers, as the casemay be whoever, and so you know.
(31:02):
The question then becomes whathave I done for God today?
Have I, have I done anything tohelp this kind and loving power
source?
Or am I just treating God likea rich uncle?
Speaker 1 (31:17):
Right, which many people definitely do.
I've probably been, I mean, nota rich uncle, but definitely
like just a father figure.
I mean, your perspective ispretty unique on God, kai.
It always has been.
I look at it just as you know.
(31:39):
I think that there's I divedeep into it Multiple pathways
to heaven, based off of theirindividual beliefs and how
they're living, A little bit ofreincarnation, but I don't know.
But, more importantly, jesus wasdefinitely on this earth, he
walked this earth and hismessage wasn't, you know,
(32:02):
organizing all these churchesand do all this.
He picked sinners or those thatwere afflicted and, in today's
day and age, those that would belooked down upon by society,
and he picked those as hisdisciples.
And for those to follow him,that was the church, just his
(32:23):
small gathering, and it grew andgrew, but then organizations,
or just his, his, his smallgathering, and it grow and grow,
but then organizations, or, or,you know, corruption and money
got involved and created.
You know, you know Catholicism,but his message was just very,
it was very clear, and his twogreatest commandments was just
to love the Lord, thy God, withall your heart, mind and soul,
and love your neighbor, and, and, and you know, that's, that's,
(32:47):
that's pretty much what I.
I'm really bad at the secondpart of it, which seems like
you're really good at it.
So that's probably why we're,you know, we're we, we bounce
off each other.
But yeah, I mean, those werehis two commandments and if
everybody did just love theirneighbor and then love God I
mean realistically what they'reor Jesus' message was pure as
(33:11):
well, and it's like therewouldn't have been all this
nonsense.
And you know, unfortunatelyit's all written and there's a
lot more wrath to come from myperspective.
But you know, I do see theloving God, but there's also got
to be.
You know, there's the otherside of what's to come, and it's
(33:33):
not necessarily God I mean, heis in control of it, but I guess
it's because they say we won'tturn away from our wicked ways
as a society and war againstbrother against brother and
nation against nation, and youknow.
But what do I know?
It could just all be, maybeyou're, you're 100 right with it
(33:55):
and and I'm 100 wrong, but who?
Who the heck knows?
The point of this podcast is toshare unique perspectives on um,
on both, and to to open theminds of of people with
interesting conversations.
Well, that's what we do.
That's exactly what we do, kai.
I uh, you know it's getting,it's getting late here.
(34:19):
If, um, I hit the sack earlynow, kai, because I I'm up at
like I'm crack when I mean crackof dawn, like I'll be up around
3, 30 in the morning I'll I'lldo a little reading.
I'll first I'll hit my knees,then I'll do a little bit of
reading and then I'll work out,um, make like a shake or
(34:40):
something, and then work on someside projects and then off to
off office.
I go for an honest day's workand then, you know, I repeat,
but I wanted to ask you if youhad a last piece of advice or
one last story or anything forthe audience.
What would it be?
Speaker 2 (35:06):
you think of love as an action word.
Okay, the two commandments tolove thy God and love your
neighbor.
Well, is that just an emotionalfeeling?
No or are you performing an actof love?
(35:26):
Yeah, and what?
Performing an act of love?
Yeah, and what would that actof love be?
Yeah, no, you're right, and so Iwould say that love is more
about behavior than aboutemotion, sure, and so.
(35:48):
So if I'm going to perform anact of love for my neighbor may
not need it every day, but if Isee him it might be.
You know, like you know my, mynext door neighbor, I take the
trash bins if he's not home andI put his trash bins away.
Or, uh, you know, it doesn'thave to be your next door
neighbor, it could be theneighbor that lives across town.
(36:11):
You run into the gas station,open the door for somebody
carrying, you know, packages ordrinks or something, and be
helpful along the way.
And the same would be true.
If I'm gonna love God, then Ihave to do some action step that
would help God and his desires.
(36:33):
Yeah, well, you know, whatwould that be?
What have I done for God today?
Well, that would be my help.
Is you know all powerful andcan do everything?
Not true, I don't think.
I think God needs our help.
Yeah, he certainly needs ourhelp in an AA room, that I know
(36:54):
for sure.
Speaker 1 (36:57):
Yeah, yeah, there certainly is.
Yeah, there's nothing besidesgood people filled in those
rooms.
Speaker 2 (37:02):
Yeah, so you know, people helped me when I went
there to get sober and have abetter life, and so I need to
pass that on and help others whocome behind me, and so that
would be helping God.
Speaker 1 (37:21):
Yeah, and that's exactly what you do, Kai.
So you're on to something,that's for sure.
Speaker 2 (37:30):
And the last part, if you think about it's often
talked about having arelationship with God, which is
different than just thinkingthat God's there.
Okay, great, but what do I do?
Relationships have two peoplein it.
Therefore, if God's doingsomething for me, I need to do
(37:53):
something for God, and that'spartly what prayer and
meditation where that comes in,because that's a little bit of a
conversation.
You can't have a goodfriendship with somebody if you
never talk to them, right, yeah,right.
So if you talk to somebody andcommunicate every day and find
out what they need and, you know, be helpful along the way, and
(38:18):
so it turns out, I think andthis is just me that my
relationship with my fellows istantamount to my relationship
with God, because my fellows areall of God's children.
It would be counterintuitivefor me to think that I was all
(38:44):
right with God if I was busybeing mean to his children or
lying, cheating and stealingfrom them.
Speaker 1 (38:51):
Right.
Speaker 2 (38:52):
But if I'm good to his children when the
opportunity presents itself,then there's a fair chance that
I will be on good terms with theGod of my understanding.
Speaker 1 (39:04):
Yeah, I mean that makes perfect sense as well,
because if you're lie-stealingand cheating from anybody,
obviously you're not living byeven human standards, let alone
God's standards.
Speaker 2 (39:23):
And even if I'm not actively lying, cheating and
steal, if I'm just being selfish, you know, and inconsiderate, I
don't have time to help thatperson, I don't know, forget
them, I'm just not going to makemyself available, whereas the
(39:49):
neighbor or the person or fellowcitizen or one of God's kids,
that means I'm not available tobe helpful if I'm too busy
thinking about myself and doingself-serving things.
So anyway, if you ask for afinal comment, I would just say
(40:11):
you know, love is about action,and take good, loving actions
toward all those that weencounter, even if it's just a
simple smile at the checkoutlane, and God will be very happy
with us.
Speaker 1 (40:27):
Yeah, I think so.
I agree.
I agree with that, Kai, and thesearch never ends.
You know that relationshipnever ends, Because if we're not
searching, then we're notreally that interested in.
You know, God, If we're notsearching right, if we're not
(40:53):
trying to figure out, you knowthe meanings of Scripture, or
the meanings of relationships,or the meanings of love, like
you just explained.
You know, then you know, Idon't know, I think the human,
and I love your concept on thehuman relations we got to do
(41:17):
both.
Speaker 2 (41:18):
Well, Dan, we know what the wise man said it's
pretty hard to teach a guysomething he thinks he already
knows.
So if I think I have all theanswers, then don't bother me.
Right, and to be kind, andremember that kindness is the
(41:40):
language that a blind man cansee and a deaf man can hear.
Speaker 1 (41:44):
That's right.
Yep, be kind, especially tothat's right.
Yep, be kind.
Speaker 2 (41:47):
Especially to those less fortunate.
Yep.
Speaker 1 (41:52):
Especially to those that are less fortunate, Alright
Kai.
Speaker 2 (41:57):
Good talk, Dan.
Thank you so very much.
Thanks for thinking of me.
Speaker 1 (42:01):
Of course Always I will talk to you soon and thank
you for coming on.
The Daily American, my friend.
Yep, talk to you soon and thankyou for coming on.
The Daily American, my friend.
Speaker 2 (42:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (42:08):
Well, you know.
Speaker 2 (42:08):
I love you and I love your listeners.
So there you go.
Speaker 1 (42:12):
You're the man guy.
I love you too.
Speaker 2 (42:15):
All right, All the best Dan Thanks.
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