Georges Van Wesenbeeck, Thank You

Thank you for your time and life

Georges in Bruges

“Georges” is spelled with an “s” at the end, like Georges Ohsawa, which many English speaking people get wrong about Ohsawa’s name. Georges Van Wesenbeeck was unaware that his first name reminded me of the “s” in Georges Ohsawa’s name but I am sure he would not have minded and would have even thought it was funny.

I did not know Georges Van Wesenbeeck as well as I wanted to but what I do know is this: Georges Van Wesenbeeck was a gentleman in every sense of the word. He was perhaps the most gentlemanly gentleman I ever met. Soft-spoken, gentle, kind, generous and always laughing with a great sense of humor. He was proud but never arrogant. Confident yet always humble. He had integrity and was always forgiving. And he listened to you, which is why, I am sure, so many loved and appreciated him. Women adored him and men envied him, including my father, Michio Kushi.

Georges was anonymously famous (or infamous?) in macrobiotic circles for a brief time thanks to Michio sharing an amusing and unusual story about him in his lectures. Michio spoke about an anonymous man who fathered two children born on the exact same day to two different women. It turned out that the man was Georges Van Wesenbeeck.

Later, I got to know Georges better and we got along well and resonated deeply in our love and respect for my parents and their work, an admiration for their unique insights, and a dedication to their vision of creating one peaceful world.

Image source: https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/article/battle-of-the-scheldt-estuary/

One of the more interesting stories that Georges shared with me about my father involved seeing ghosts. As one of the organizers of my father’s many visits to Belgium, Georges often served as his personal driver. Late at night after one of Michio’s lectures they were driving around in Antwerp looking for a place to eat when Michio suddenly told Georges to stop the car. Georges pulled over and Michio pointed out into an empty, dimly light, shadowy square and asked Georges, “Do you see them?” Not seeing anything, Georges was puzzled and confused. Michio explained further that he could see many soldiers fighting each other in the square. Georges was shocked because in that very place a famous battle had taken place during World War II. Michio was seeing the ghosts of these World War II soldiers who continued to fight long after they had died in battle. I would not have known about this ghostly incident had it not been for Georges Van Wesenbeeck. Life and death are not separate. (See: “The Battle Of Scheldt”). Thank you, Georges.

Georges hiking and camping with us on Lost Lake Trail in Alaska. We swam in glacier fed lakes.

Out of a concern for our mutual friend and colleague, Marc Van Cauwenberghe, Georges came to visit the Alaskan macrobiotic community where myself and Marc were living at the time. With his flexibility, charm, grace and dignity, Georges adapted well to the rustic lifestyle and was immediately embraced by everyone in the community. During that time Georges earned a deeper level of respect from me. He demonstrated that he was never judgmental nor fearful to dive headfirst into an adventure in order to fully learn and embrace others. He led with his heart and compassion for all. It takes a person of great self-confidence, humility and a deep respect for others to fully immerse one’s self in a different social and physical environment and Georges had no problem doing that.

After his visit to Alaska, Georges invited me to visit him in Belgium. He was a gracious host and took us, (Claire and me), around Belgium. Staying with Georges in his home I began to better understand who Georges was.

(Note: Jan Vervecken also visited the Alaskan community before Georges and displayed a similar flexibility, sense of adventure and non-judgmental embrace that also earned my respect)

If there ever was to be a macrobiotic world government then Georges Van Wesenbeeck would certainly have been involved. He was a perfect diplomat and a natural born leader. He exemplified a macrobiotic life of adventure, joy, self-confidence, humility and respect for everyone.

Georges reminded me that Michio once said that he thought Belgium might become the first macrobiotic country in the world. George was very proud of this and did his best to try and make this happen. After visiting Belgium myself I could understand why Michio said that.

Belgium is at a sort of center and crossroads of Western Europe making its inhabitants uniquely aware of and open to new ideas from all over Europe and the world. It makes the people of Belgium highly adaptive yet resilient while always being aware of and thinking about the greater good for all. It is no wonder that the EU (European Union) Headquarters is located in Brussels, Belgium.

Belgium is also home to Lima Foods, the first macrobiotic food distributor in the West. It is named after Ohsawa’s wife, Lima, and was founded by Ohsawa student and World Federalist colleague, Pierre Gaevart in 1957.

Will Belgium become the first macrobiotic nation in the world? That will be up to the people living there and the challenge is greater now with the loss of Georges Van Wesenbeeck.

The world has lost a great person and the macrobiotic world has lost a leader who led, not by telling people what to do, but by the example of his own daily life, sense of adventure and joy of living and wonderful sense of humor. I have lost a great friend and with it, the hope of working together and adapting our message of peace, grace, flexibility, integrity and humility to the changing times.

Georges relaxing in his home

Thank you, Georges Van Wesenbeeck. I can only hope and strive to be the gentleman that you were. See you again in the future.

Phiya Kushi