December 8

Your Time​—Be Happy in the Way You Use It

MORE and more people today find little satisfaction with the way in which they spend their time. This is noticeable even among those whom we might reasonably expect to be happy​—persons still having the strength and vigor of youth. Yet many of them see no real purpose in living.

Take the case of a young man in Japan. “While preparing for college entrance examinations about four years ago,” he says, “I spent much of my time contemplating the meaning and purpose of life. The more that I read and studied various books on philosophy, the more disappointed I was. Shortly after passing the entrance examinations, I joined a political party. Because of many problems, the political activity came to a standstill. Again I had to face the question, ‘What is the purpose of life?’”

Disappointed because college did not give him the answer to his question, he confined himself to his room in a boardinghouse and became absorbed in reading novels. He says: “I began to live a pleasure-seeking life, doing so half out of despair. I wondered more and more as to what men live for.”

Similarly, a young man living in California relates: “I thought that life’s purpose was to acquire as much as possible. But I found such a life very dissatisfying and disappointing. After having gone to college for two years, and after buying a house, a new van and an expensive sports car and other things, I still wasn’t satisfied nor happy with my life. I could see myself going through more of the same for the next forty years and then finally acquiring the grave. Besides this, I was having problems in my marriage. My wife and I had sought out such help as guidance groups and even a psychiatrist. But nothing improved our marriage.”

In the case of both men something happened that changed their whole view of life. Today they are happy with the way in which they are using their time. The Japanese man explains: “I finally came to the conclusion that the answer to my long-perplexing question regarding the reason or purpose for life depended upon whether God exists or not. I reasoned, ‘If men were a mere product of evolution, there cannot be a purpose in life.’ So I decided to make sure of the existence of God. I came to realize how much satisfaction and joy the way of living taught by the Bible gives us.” The young man from California followed a like course and says: “The more I would apply Bible principles in my marriage, the more it improved.”

The experiences of both men well illustrate that a person can be happy with the way in which he is using his time when he heeds the inspired counsel of the Christian apostle Paul: “Keep strict watch that how you walk is not as unwise but as wise persons, buying out the opportune time for yourselves, because the days are wicked.”​—Eph. 5:15, 16.

In this world there are many distractions, things that can lead a person to waste valuable time and even to bring trouble upon himself. Many persons are given to excesses in food and drink. The use of addictive drugs is becoming more and more widespread, and sexual immorality is being engaged in on a large scale. Books and magazines that appeal to base inclinations are being printed by the millions. Much that may be seen on movie and television screens has little value and may be very degrading. That is why, as in the apostle Paul’s day, we can say that the “days are wicked.”

A person must, therefore, be on guard against becoming involved in a way of life that results only in frustration and a feeling of emptiness and despair. Wise is the One who ‘buys out the opportune time for himself,’ that is, stops devoting time to worthless pursuits and redeems it for use in a meaningful way.

What about your own life? Are you pleased with the way you have been spending your time? Or, do you feel that you would be far happier if you could use it more purposefully? As imperfect humans, we all have room for improvement and need dependable guidance to make wise use of time. Our Maker, Jehovah God, has provided such guidance in his Word, the Bible.

If you are not presently experiencing the joy that comes from knowing and applying Bible principles in your life, why not begin now? Jehovah’s Witnesses in your area would be delighted to share with you what they have learned from the Scriptures. Avail yourself of their aid and see for yourself how helpful the Bible is in pointing the way to happiness through wise use of time.

How Much Confidence Should You Have in Science?

By “Awake!” correspondent in West Germany

ADVANCES in various fields of science have certainly made contributions to the welfare of the human family. Various medical procedures have helped to prolong life and ease suffering. Advances in technology have improved the quality of our lives in some ways, and have made jobs easier.

Because of such advances, many people view science with an almost worshipful awe. The successful moon landings by astronauts reinforce this feeling. As a result, the ideas expressed by scientists in other matters are also highly respected by many people. And it is a widely held belief that whatever problems the human family faces will eventually be solved, with science and technology leading the way.

This prevailing view was summed up a few years ago in a report published in connection with the 200th anniversary of the founding of the well-known J. R. Geigy pharmaceutical corporation in Basel, Switzerland. One of the commentators, German physicist Professor C. F. von Weizsäcker, is reported as having stated:

“Science today is the only thing in which men as a whole believe: it is the only universal religion of our time . . . The scientist has thus got himself into an ambiguous position: he is a priest of this new religion, possessing its secrets and marvels; for what to others is puzzling, strange or secret is plain to him.”

But is such confidence in science justified? Not according to von Weizsäcker. He notes that any scientist worthy of the name should realize “that what he knows is only a fraction of what he needs to know if he is really to be fit to carry responsibility for the lives of men.” He should appreciate that even in his speciality there is so much he does not know. And honest scientists understand that while science has produced things improving life, it has also done the opposite. It has been responsible for producing things that have made life miserable for millions of people.

The bloodshed and destruction of this century’s world wars are an example. World War II alone is reported to have taken over 50 million lives. Many of these victims died in horrible ways due to the inventions of science and technology: explosives dropped on many peace-loving civilians by speeding aircraft, rockets, tanks, flamethrowers, automatic weapons, torpedoes, atomic bombs and other engines of death. These, too, were the products of scientific and industrial “advancement.”

In more recent times science and technology have shared responsibility for making and using things that have resulted in pollution, noise, congestion and tension. All these facts should make scientists more modest in their claims, and other people more careful as to where they put their confidence.

Problems with Chemicals

Even men of science generally devoted to improving man’s life have awesome problems to face as we can see, for instance, in the drug industry. New drugs are constantly appearing on the market, but the supervision and testing of such drugs have not always been thorough enough.

What happened in West Germany (as well as on a minor scale in Sweden, Canada and Brazil) a few years ago demonstrates the tragic results that can come from the misuse of drugs. The drug Thalidomide was widely used as a tranquilizer. Expectant mothers also used it. But some of them found, to their horror, that upon their giving birth their babies were malformed because of the drug. Thousands of these children were physically or mentally retarded, and remain so to this day. Of these children, the West German news magazine Der Spiegel said:

“They are the victims of a catastrophic mishap, brewed together in the test tubes of a scientifically persuaded generation; the ones forced to suffer because of a mysteriously effective mechanism built into one tenth of a gram of white substance; into the sleeping pills Thalidomide.”

Der Spiegel noted that 310,000,000 dosages of the sedative had been sold between 1957 and 1961. It had been advertised as “nontoxic,” “harmless,” and “completely nonpoisonous.’’ The magazine added: “Nine men were indicted. Not indicted is the willingness of a scientifically persuaded generation to consume medicines by the ton, although scientists in most cases do not know even today just how these affect the human organism.”

Since that time drug procedures have been tightened. Yet the quantity of drugs pouring out of factories is staggering. People all over the world are consuming billions of various drug pills each year. And newer ones are continually being put on the market. The damage to health may appear only after a long period of usage, as proved in the case of cigarette smoking. That is why H. Weicker, professor of human genetics at Bonn University and one of the leading medical experts called to testify at the Thalidomide trial in West Germany, said: “A disaster such as the Thalidomide catastrophe can again overtake us at any time.”

Naturwissenschaftliche Rundschau (Natural Science Review) of West Germany, in its September 1975 issue, stated: “Not only the feared Thalidomide, but apparently many other medicines could also cause deformities in newborn babies if taken by their mothers during the first six weeks of pregnancy, when the embryo is especially sensitive.”

At the School of Public Health in Berkeley, California, L. Milkovich and B. J. vanden Berg studied the effects of drugs in 19,044 newborn babies. Those whose mothers took no tranquilizers during the first 42 days of pregnancy had an average of 2.7 percent deformities. Where the mothers had taken a popular tranquilizer (Equanil), the deformity rate of the newborn babies was 12.1 percent. In the case of another popular drug (Librium), the deformity rate was 11.4 percent. Mothers who took other tranquilizers had about twice as many deformed babies as the mothers who took no drugs at all.

In the book Thalidomide and the Power of the Drug Companies (1972, p. 279), authors H. Sjöström and R. Nilsson declared: “In spite of all warnings, we shall evidently have to wait for a ‘genetic’ disaster to occur before the authorities and the chemical industry wake up. When this occurs owing to the failure to control the properties of some widely used chemical to induce hereditary change, we shall certainly hear from the authorities and from industry that ‘nobody ever thought of such a possibility,’ that ‘this catastrophe was unavoidable.’”

Yet, away back at the beginning of this century scientists were able to induce malformations in lower animals by the use of chemicals. And in spite of all the knowledge and experience gained since then, the load of chemicals (the effects of which on the human body when consumed over years are not yet fully understood, and which are introduced into pills, as well as food, drink and air) continues to mount. Although further factors are also involved, it is no wonder that so many ailments, such as cancer and heart disease, are on the increase.

These few examples from the history of medicine and pharmacy suffice in showing that blind and absolute faith in scientific “progress” is not justified.

This is certainly the case, too, in another field of science, where gullibility is even more pronounced and unjustified.

Tracing Man’s Origin

In the past century, the theory of evolution has been widely accepted and promoted by most scientists. This is the belief that humans have evolved from apelike beasts over a period of millions of years. Although some scientists reject the evolution theory and believe the Bible account that man was created directly by God, the majority of scientists speak as if evolution were a fact proved beyond dispute.

But that is not the case at all. If it were so, many scientists would not still be spending much of their time trying to prove it. They would not be devoting years to crawling around on their hands and knees in the heat of Africa and other places trying to find fossils to prove their theory.

But many evolutionary scientists are guilty of very unscientific procedures in being dogmatic on little or nonexistent evidence. Worse, they have at times been guilty of gross deceptions to try to convince the public that they are proving their theory.

For example, there was the infamous “Piltdown man.” This was asserted to be a vital “missing link” between man and beast. It was “discovered” by Charles Dawson at Piltdown, England, early in this century. But decades later it was exposed as a hoax, a fake. It turned out to be the skull of a modern man combined with the jawbone of an ape that had been “doctored” with chemicals to try to make it look ancient.

One of the broadcasts last year of a West German radio program dealing with science and education was entitled “Forgers in Science”; it told of more recent frauds. An interesting example was of a corpse that came to the attention of the Belgian Royal Academy of Science in 1969. The corpse was preserved in ice and appeared to be a first-rate scientific sensation. Dr. Bernard Heuvelmans, a zoologist and member of the Brussels Academy, said that it was a proof of the evolution theory. He submitted to the Academy the opinion that the apelike creature was a “missing link” between man and ape.

The creature was located in a freezer in the United States, in Minnesota. The zoologist spent days observing and appraising this supposed ancestor of man lying in icy armor. But after examinations, it was discovered that this apelike creature had been on ice, not for millions of years, but for only a few years!

What did Dr. Heuvelmans and other scientists conclude? Not that it was a fake. Instead, they concluded that in our modern era there must have been a remnant of pre-historic man living upon the earth! In a bulletin from the Belgian Academy of Natural Science, Dr. Heuvelmans tried to document his presumptuous theory with extensive illustrations. He even gave the creature the “scientific” name of homo pongoides, that is, “apelike man.”

However, the Academy was perplexed and suspicious. Further extensive and difficult investigations were made. With what conclusion? Was this the biological discovery of the century? The German radio program related: “By no means. Once again forgers had made fools of the scientists. The public was presented with a comedy which was difficult to see through, but it was very evident that it was well staged. The main characters, although unwillingly, were zoologists, anthropologists, paleontologists and other scientists.”

W. R. Lützenkirchen, who wrote the script for this radio program, said: “The ‘missing link’ between man and anthropoid ape is a swindle, a clear forgery. The primitive man . . . came out of the bag of tricks used in the film industry in Hollywood.” He noted that “trick specialists . . . brewed up the ‘missing link.’”

Other Frauds

While this forged “prehistoric man” was one of the more spectacular fakes in recent years, it was not the only one. The program commented on the discovery of supposed works of art of ‘prehistoric Neanderthal man’ in Dithmarschen, a rural section bordering on the North Sea in the northernmost German state of Schleswig-Holstein. North German historians felt that they had a sensational find. In the Dithmarsch State Museum in the city of Meldorf a display of these artifacts was quickly organized.

What happened next? Says Mr. Lützenkirchen “The well-known professor, Herbert Kühn, who specializes in pre-history and is an expert in pre-historic cave paintings, spoke at the opening of the display in Meldorf of a ‘climactic moment of archaeology.’ In exuberance and with euphoria the scientist announced ‘discoveries’ which could ‘compete with that of Galileo Galilei.’ In reality he was caught in a forgery comedy.”

The discoveries had been dated as being from 100,000 to 180,000 years old. But it was found that these works of art, supposedly Neanderthal, had been produced just recently! Responsible for the whole affair was a sales clerk from a village named “Albersdorf.” That was an appropriate coincidence, since in the German language “albern” means “silly.” The clerk had taken old wood and bones from animals and cleverly worked them over.

Some of such forgeries were discovered after only a few months. But others, such as the Piltdown fraud, took decades to uncover. And another example, which took years to expose, had to do with the ‘tools’ that the allegedly primitive ‘Steinheimer man’ was supposed to have used. Until recently these have been in museums and display cases.

In the publication Stuttgarter Beiträge zur Naturkunde (Stuttgart’s Contributions to Natural History), May 1974, evolutionist Professor K. D. Adam, chief curator of the State Museum of Natural Sciences in Stuttgart, stated that the supposed 250,000-year-old artifacts of ‘homo steinheimensis’ were a proof, not of evolution, but of scientific error. He added: “It is stated as a result of the discussed research that none of the countless, ostensible stone- and bone-tools can be proved to be an implement produced and used by man: they are pebbles of limestone, and also subordinated of sandstone and dolomite, as well as bone fragments, mostly indeterminable.”

Where Confidence Can Be Placed

Of course, there are finds relative to man’s origin that are much better documented than the forgeries. These clearly show that the ‘historical period’ of man began some five to six thousand years ago. And there has been solid scientific progress in gathering information about this earth and its life systems. Also in other fields, scientists have made genuine contributions to the welfare of mankind, all of which is commendable and very much appreciated.

But what is also clearly shown in the history of science is that scientists are only imperfect humans. They make mistakes just like everybody else. And often, because of the desire for fame, or because of pride and stubbornness, they will cling to ideas that are not the truth and that can even result in harm to people.

More and more people, including scientists, are acknowledging this. Especially is this the case in our time when the negative fruits of science and technology have become more obvious, and many times these backfire, to the torment of the human family. So it should be apparent that we cannot put total confidence and unshakable faith in humans, be they scientists or others.

There is only one source that merits total confidence and unshakable faith. That source is our Creator, Jehovah God. The Bible writer of Proverbs says: “The eyes of Jehovah are in every place.” (Prov. 15:3) Nothing is hidden from the Creator. Since he originated the universe and all life in it, he certainly knows where man came from and where he is going. He also makes available to those who trust him accurate information about such matters.

It is comforting to men and women of faith to know that their future does not depend upon what mere humans do. They appreciate that the record of human failures in past centuries gives no basis for confidence. Rather, faith in the dependable Creator does inspire confidence in the future. And the future He promises is one without sickness and sorrow. “‘For I myself well know the thoughts that I am thinking toward you,’ is the utterance of Jehovah, ‘thoughts of peace, and not of calamity, to give you a future and a hope.’”​—Jer. 29:11.

[Picture on page 5]

Products of science took more than 50,000,000 lives in World War II

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“Thalidomide babies” resulted from placing too much trust in science

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The Piltdown man, a “scientific” fraud

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Confidence in the Creator does not result in disappointment

A Squirrel’s Life Is a Busy One

SQUIRRELS are busy little creatures, seeming to be constantly on the move. Now you see them; now you don’t. But perhaps the most striking feature of the common tree squirrel is its large, bushy tail.

Why, the very name “squirrel” calls attention to this appendage. Wilfred Funk’s Word Origins tells us that the English designation for this creature comes “from the Greek skiouros, ‘shadow tail,’ from skia, ‘shadow,’ and oura, ‘tail.’” This work then adds: “Since about a third of every squirrel is tail the description ‘shadow tail’ seems like an acute choice for a name.”​—P. 197.

The squirrel family is widespread, being found in Europe, Asia, Africa and North and South America. The most common tree squirrels are the gray squirrel of North America and the red squirrel inhabiting Europe and Asia.

A squirrel’s tail is a most useful appendage. When this creature, with legs spread straight, makes its tremendous leaps from the branch of one tree to the branch of another tree, the tail helps it to maintain balance. Faced with an antagonist, the squirrel can use its tail like a shield. Should the temperature plunge, the tail serves well as a blanket. The tail can also function as an umbrella when arched over the animal’s back during a rainstorm.

Squirrels are outstanding jumpers and can fall from great heights without sustaining injury. With one leap, a squirrel may jump from the ground to a height of three or four feet on the trunk of a tree and then bound away. At times a squirrel may land on a rotten limb and tumble to the ground or it may lose its footing and fall. Like a parachute, the tail will slow the creature’s descent. Yes, thanks to its large, bushy tail, a squirrel can drop hundreds of feet and thereafter run off like a flash.

Furthermore, a squirrel’s being able to drop from a considerable height without sustaining any injury has escape value. Hard pressed by an enemy, a squirrel may deliberately drop to the ground and take off through the underbrush to safety.

These bushy-tailed creatures also have other ways of coping with trespassers. Initially the animal may resort to noisy scolding. When this does not work, it may quickly rotate to the other side of the tree trunk or branch, thereby keeping the tree trunk or branch between itself and the unwelcome visitor. Should this not be enough, the squirrel may quickly scamper to loftier heights. Camouflage, too, comes in handy. Remaining motionless, a gray squirrel may appear as if it were part of the tree trunk or branch. In the event that the young are threatened by a bird of prey, a mother squirrel may rise on her hind legs and pummel the assailant.

Squirrels are famous for hoarding. Carrying a nut in its mouth, a squirrel will dig a hole with its forefeet, deposit the nut and then cover it up with dirt. According to one estimate, it takes seven minutes for a gray squirrel to bury ten nuts. A single squirrel may hide some 10,000 nuts in a three-month period. Many of the nuts that are not later dug up and eaten are thus planted. In this way squirrels contribute much toward propagating trees.

Even when the ground is covered by a foot (30 centimeters) or more of snow, squirrels appear to have no difficulty in finding nuts that they have buried. What enables them to do this? A keen sense of smell is believed to be the primary factor.

Red squirrels are active hoarders of pine cones. One of these squirrels may cut down over a hundred pine cones in just one hour. The animal then piles these up and covers them over with leaves or hides them in the hollow of a tree. A red squirrel may end up with a store of some three to ten bushels (1 to 3.5 hectoliters) of pine cones.

Besides having a pleasant beauty, squirrels are busy workers indeed. The next time you see these delightful creatures scamper about, remember that they are providing a valuable service in planting trees.

Learning a Song

■ Perhaps on hearing the beautiful singing of a songbird, you have been amazed at what seemed to be an inborn ability. But does the bird sing this song just by instinct? Perhaps not entirely.

Experiments with the white-crowned sparrow show that this bird must learn the song of its species. If raised separate from adults of its own kind and thus unable to hear their singing, the white-crowned sparrow will sing but will develop its song abnormally. On the other hand, if during the time when it is between ten and fifty days of age it hears even recordings of normal songs of its species, it will learn to sing normally. And, in fact, it will imitate the particular dialect of song it hears.

But would it learn to sing just any song it hears? No. If, during this same period, recordings of another species are played, it will not learn that song. It seems that the sparrow needs training to learn its normal song, but also it has some internal guidelines that enable it to focus on the particular song for its species and that lead it to reject other songs. This, in effect, is a built-in insurance that the white-crowned sparrow will not learn the song of another species.

A Diminutive Man Who Became Full-grown

I REMEMBER the first time that I met Andrew; I was fascinated. Etched on his face was the wisdom of many years of world travel, intensive study and human experience. He spoke many languages and was a talented artist​—both a painter and a sculptor. He was a renowned entertainer and actor. Remarkably, he stands only forty-three inches (109 centimeters) tall, one of the smallest people in the whole world.

Born in Port Arthur, Manchuria, in 1903, Andrew’s physical development halted when he was six years old, though mentally he was far above normal. His parents were poor peasant farmers who spent most of their time toiling in the fields. As the years passed, it became obvious that he would not grow up in a normal way.

At an early age his parents moved to Siberia, where his childhood memories were filled with lonely spaces in the great forests. The terrain was desolate, swept by cold winds and snow.

His parents were faced with the difficult decision of what to do with him. “My mother told me that she and my father did not have the time or resources to care for me properly and watch over me,” he said. “I was so tiny.”

So they decided to give Andrew up. They knew they could not afford to keep him. He required too much care, and the times were hard. In 1915, at the age of twelve, he was adopted by a couple with no children of their own.

“My stepmother had once wished that she could have a child who would never grow up.” Smiling, he said, “She got her wish.”

A Career Begins

Andrew’s new parents were Russian actors dedicated to the Shakespearean theater. Due to ill health, his stepfather was forced to leave the stage. So now he directed his attention to his son and started seeking other small persons to perform with him in order to establish a dramatic company. They came from many parts of the world, and were called Nicholas Ratoucheff’s “Famous Little Midgets.” They all were extraordinarily small.

In his spare time the young man devoted himself to painting, and his Russian landscapes, villages, forests and wildlife were both delicate and beautiful. His early paintings were based on childhood memories of the lonely, desolate Siberian landscape. Yet his portraits and still lifes revealed the influence of a sunny disposition and a philosophical mind.

A New Life in a New Land

Eventually, the Russian revolution in 1917 forced the family to leave their native land and they moved to Paris, which became their European base. From here the midget troupe toured the world, journeying from Europe to Asia and back. In 1922 Andrew’s stepfather bought a home in Paris for all the midgets. Shortly afterward the group found their way to the United States and embarked upon a career in vaudeville in New York.

As a singing, dancing and comedy troupe, they appeared in a variety of productions, playing to capacity audiences. They were featured in the Ziegfeld Follies of 1924. Andrew enjoyed his life because he was among others like himself.

After appearing on the Broadway stage for many years, he was faced with an important decision. His parents had died, and members of the company were returning to Europe. It was 1939, and he decided to stay in the United States. He became a citizen and settled on Long Island, New York.

His career now quickly changed, and he started performing as an individual. His talents became more diversified. He appeared with Talullah Bankhead in “Skin of Our Teeth,” and was featured in Olsen and Johnson’s “Hellzapoppin” for six years. His popularity zoomed.

Meanwhile, Andrew’s paintings were shown in galleries both in the United States and abroad, and he studied art on both continents. In Paris he studied at the Institute with Bonet and Kolesnikoff, and later in New York with Vastchiloff. His paintings were shown in the Galerie Nationale and the Institute D’Esthetique Contemporaine in Paris and in many of the New York galleries​—where they were reviewed as “universally appealing and astonishing.”

His career spanned the stage, motion pictures, television, commercial advertising, fairs and circuses. Children’s programs were his specialty, and his elflike face and figure appeared on screens in millions of homes.

“I had reached the pinnacle or zenith of my potential as a performer,” he said.

Life Remained Without Purpose

Despite fame and success, he felt unfulfilled. “After the performances were over and the crowds had dispersed, I felt alone,” Andrew continued. “It did not seem lasting or rewarding.”

So many things in his life were frustrating​—unnatural. Everything was fashioned for normal-sized people, and the little people seemed out of place. The life of a little person is vastly different from that of normal people. Everything in his home requires special consideration. The telephone is just three feet above floor level. Wooden benches are used to reach everything, and bookcases and high shelves require a ladder.

Children represent a constant hazard. Not realizing his age (now 73), they sometimes consider him a small child, and being pushed or shoved could be dangerous. Strangers opening their doors to him frequently do not see him. Often he has to say, “I’m down here!” They look down in astonishment.

But even more frustrating was the fact that while he was “cute, clever and entertaining,” no one ever took him seriously on subjects of concern and importance.

A Change in His Life

Andrew’s life changed one day in 1957 at a shopping center in Elmhurst, New York.

“A woman stopped me as I struggled with a huge bag of groceries and offered assistance. I observed that I had a lot of food for such a small person. She said, ‘Yes, you do. But do you have any spiritual food?’

“I had no particular religious beliefs at that time, and the question caused me to ponder a reply. ‘What do you mean, spiritual food?’ I asked her. That started an exchange of conversation which led me to a whole new way of life,” he said.

She introduced him to the Bible. After a comprehensive study program, he was determined to use the time and energy that he possessed to help others. He became a man devoted to Christian works and service, and was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses on January 1, 1958.

A Life of Christian Service

“Life was now rewarding to me,” he said, “and the greatest joy was in seeing other people respond and develop a hope for the future. The Bible holds out the only real hope for people living today.”

He appreciates the words of the apostle Paul when he said: “Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in insults, in cases of need, in persecutions and difficulties, for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am powerful.”​—2 Cor. 12:10.

Andrew frequently discusses with others the bright prospects that God’s kingdom holds out to humankind​—how it will eliminate all causes of suffering and imperfection and restore true peace to the earth. “Being a midget means being imperfect,” he says, “and it is a life that is unnatural​—contrary to proper development. It is just one of the many imperfections and hardships that God’s kingdom will soon eliminate.”

Revelation 21:1-4 expresses his deepest feelings. There the apostle John describes this inspired vision: “I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea is no more. . . . With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: ‘Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his peoples. And God himself will be with them. And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.’”

Andrew’s days on the stage and before the camera are over, but his talents are not lost. He uses them daily in glorifying his Creator, Jehovah God, telling others about His purposes for the earth. He is ready to talk, to anyone who will listen, about the grand blessings God has in store for all who will serve Him.​—1 John 2:17; Ps. 145:16.

“I am a very small man,” he said, with a wry grin. “But God does not look at outward appearances, as to how big or how small one is. People are not small because of stature,” he said, “but because they fail to appreciate spiritual things​—develop spiritual insight. You are not mature until you are mature in this sense.”

Retired in Florida, this diligent worker is seen pedaling his three-wheel miniature bicycle through the streets of his neighborhood as he goes about making available to others the Bible’s promises and hopes. Andrew is small only in stature. In every other way, this diminutive man has become full-grown.

‘Impressed by Good Citizenship’

FOR many years the Roman Catholic Church in Spain succeeded in influencing the government to restrict the activity of Jehovah’s Witnesses. But since July 1970, under a new law of religious liberty, the Spanish government has granted the Witnesses legal recognition. And now they are the second-largest religious group in the country, with over 30,000 persons sharing each month in the public witnessing work.

Last August Jehovah’s Witnesses held nine “Sacred Service” District Assemblies throughout Spain. The combined peak attendance was 51,420, with 1,733 persons symbolizing their dedication to God’s service by being baptized. Pablo Morán, writing in the Hoja del Lunes de Gijón of August 9, 1976, reported regarding the gathering of over 10,000 Witnesses in Gijón, Oviedo:

“Jehovah’s Witnesses have impressed me by their good citizenship, which on this occasion is above all a symbol of cleanliness and hygiene. . . .

“And being clean is not just having a shower and changing your underwear every day. No, being clean is taking care of the surroundings in which we live, whether it be the beach, the countryside or the street. . . . In other words, being clean is what Jehovah’s Witnesses have been in El Molinón, where many thousands have attended and where not even one cigarette butt, or one scrap of paper, or food trash was to be found.

“One thinks that if Gijón en masse were to be converted to the beliefs of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Gijón would be the cleanest and best kept city in the world.”

Is Your Problem a Detached Retina?

THE trouble may appear as sudden flashes of light or as a hazy or wavy curtain floating across your field of vision. Objects seem to lack definition. Perhaps showers of spots impair your eyesight.

Not all these symptoms in themselves indicate serious eye trouble. However, if any of them persist, probably it will be wise to visit your eye doctor. The problem may be a detached retina. What does that mean?

The Marvelous Structure of Your Eyes

A look at the marvelous structure of your eyes will be informative. The eyeball, or “globe,” is round, except at the front, where it has a bulge. “This bulge,” notes the book Living with Your Eye Operation, “contains the light-gathering apparatus of the eye. The ‘skin’ of the entire eyeball is opaque [nontransparent] to light except at this bulge, where it is normally a beautifully clear and round window called the cornea.”

Behind the cornea is the colored iris, with a hole, or pupil, at its center. The iris automatically increases or decreases the size of the pupil to control the amount of light entering the eye.

Just behind the iris is the crystalline lens. This works together with the cornea to focus light at the rear of the eyeball, where it is converted into electrical impulses that are transmitted to the visual center of the brain. It is the brain, not the eyes, that actually does the “seeing.”

Back of the lens the eyeball is filled with vitreous humor. This is a transparent jellylike substance made up mostly of water, with a tiny percentage of solids.

The Eyeball’s Unique “Skin”

The “skin” of the eyeball consists of three layers. The outermost layer is the sclera. It is tough, fibrous and opaque over most of the eye, preventing light from entering. At the front, however, the sclera becomes the transparent cornea.

The middle layer of this skin is highly complicated. At the front of the eyeball it separates into other structures, including the iris. However, over four fifths of the eyeball it forms an essentially continuous layer called the choroid.

It is the third or innermost layer of the eyeball’s three-ply skin that especially captures our attention. This is the retina. The magazine MD of July 1970 explains that the retina is a “paper-thin membrane that gives the light-images entering the eye the shape, color and texture that the brain perceives.” Though “paper thin,” the retina consists of many distinct layers. According to The World Book Encyclopedia, “it, consists of three main layers of cells: (1) nerve cells toward the central cavity, (2) light-sensitive cells in the middle, and (3) pigment-containing cells toward the outside near the choroid.”

The light-sensitive cells in the retina number many millions. The article in MD points out: “Each eye contains some 130 million rods that respond to dim light and transmit only shades of gray; the 7 million cones, concentrated largely at the center of the retina in the fovea, react to bright light and are responsible for color vision.” Incidentally, the fovea is only about one square millimeter in area, about this size: ^▫.

Tiny nerve fibers extend from the rods and cones in all parts of the eye. These come together at the rear of the eyeball to make up the optic nerve, which connects with the brain. Concerning the retina, a Nobel Prize-winning eye specialist, Santiago Ramón y Cajal, observed in his Recollections of My Life:

“The retina always fascinated me because I believed that life never succeeded in constructing a machine so subtly devised and so perfectly adapted to an end. . . . My study of this membrane for the first time weakened my faith in Darwin’s hypothesis of natural selection, for I was amazed and confounded by the supreme constructive ingenuity revealed not only in the retina and in the dioptric apparatus of the vertebrates but even in the meanest insect eye. . . .”

A Threat to Good Vision

Good vision requires a healthy retina. But frequently something threatens its health. How so? The retina becomes detached from the choroid layer that lies behind it and nourishes it. This leads to degeneration of the retina and likely to blindness.

Tens of thousands of persons suffer from this malady. According to the Medical Tribune of April 25, 1973, “the incidence of retinal detachment is estimated at about 15,000 to 20,000 a year, and of these, only about 15 to 16 per cent are trauma-related; the rest are spontaneous.”

Retinal detachment occurs more frequently among people over the age of fifty. One out of every four sufferers has the problem in both eyes. Persons with diabetes are twenty times as likely to become blind from retinal disease as are nondiabetics.

How the Retina Becomes Detached

What causes the retina to become detached from the nourishing choroid layer behind it? While blood vessels in the choroid nourish the retina, they do not connect with it. There is very little adhesive between the two layers. The book Living with Your Eye Operation explains: “In effect, the retina lies against the choroid like some silky wall covering that is not pasted to the plaster, but is pushed against the wall by the wind.” In healthy eyes the vitreous humor presses the retina snugly against the choroid. But if blood or any other substance gets behind the retina, between it and the choroid, this acts to detach the retina from its source of nourishment.

Usually the problem begins with a tear, break, hole or some other damage to the retina. This permits fluid to seep behind the retina, floating it off the choroid. The reasons for the initial damage to the retina may be “traumatic,” such as bumping one’s head. But evidently there must be some prior weakness that makes the retina susceptible to tearing when subjected to trauma.

Why are older people more likely to be afflicted with detached retinas? “After the age of 40,” notes Medical Tribune, “the vitreous body, a collagen gel, shrinks and draws away from the inner surface of the retina; the constant pull of the gel on the retina may eventually tear it in some people, and free water leaks behind the retina, floating it off the choroid.”

Why are diabetics so much more susceptible to retinal detachment? Because diabetes often results in retinal bleeding. As noted above, blood or any other fluid that leaks behind the retina can cause it to become detached.

Try to Preserve Your Vision

Do you enjoy good eyesight at present? It makes sense to do all that you can to preserve it. One thing to avoid is long exposure to bright light, such as often happens during days at the seashore. Experiments with animals have shown that prolonged exposure to bright light causes permanent eye damage. In fact, it may be as dangerous to the retina as staring at an eclipse of the sun.

The publication Optical Developments (February-March 1957) mentions an important factor in maintaining good eyesight: “Proper nutrition is of major importance in the process of vision. It is evident that the full quota of vitamins, minerals and amino acids is to be featured as essential factors in the prevention of visual defects at all stages of life, and in the correction of various dysfunctions if they have not passed the reversible stages.”

Scientists have shown, for example, that the retina contains huge amounts of vitamin A. The pigment “visual purple,” found in the light-sensitive rods and which aids the eyes to adjust to dusk or dim light consists of protein and a substance chemically related to vitamin A. The B vitamins, as well as vitamins C and D, are also essential to healthy eyes. A balanced, nutritious diet ordinarily provides these essential elements.

If you are over forty, there is something else that may help. Since eye problems are more frequent in this age group, a visit to the eye doctor, at least every two years, is recommended. Your doctor’s knowledge and skill may even prevent retinal detachment. How so?

By use of an ophthalmoscope and other instruments the doctor can examine the back of your eyeball. He literally “lights up” the inside of your eyeball and looks into it through the pupil and lens. These instruments can reveal both retinal detachment and tears or breaks in the retina that may precede detachment. Prompt treatment may prevent serious complications. But what if the retina has come loose? What procedure might a doctor use to treat this problem? How bright would be your prospects for regaining functional eyesight?

Treatments Highly Successful

If the retina has separated from the choroid, the desired goal is to get it reattached. How can this be done? Bernard Seeman explains in Your Sight​—Folklore, Fact and Common Sense: “In 1919 a Swiss physician, Jules Gonin, suggested that retinal detachment could be corrected by cauterizing the tear in the retina, thus causing an adhesive scar that would once more fix the retina to the choroid. . . . Today Gonin’s basic thesis is still applied, but techniques have improved considerably.”

Now the adhesive scar is often made by means of surgical diathermy. This involves a needle bearing high-frequency electric current. Touching it to points on the sclera produces pinpoints of irritation that cause formation of scar tissues. The scar tissues grasp the retina from behind and hold it firmly against the choroid.

More recently the same effect has been achieved by use of light. In the 1950’s a procedure was developed to “spotweld” detached retinas by means of an intense beam of brilliant light from a xenon arc. During the following decade further progress was made by using a laser beam.

Another method of treating detached retinas involves the cryoprobe. This is a tiny probe attached to a freezing unit. In this case frigid temperature, rather than heat or light, produces the adhesive scar. “Cryosurgery, one of the latest developments in the treatment of retinal detachment,” notes Bernard Seeman, “has several advantages over other forms of surgery, particularly in that it is less likely to cause damage to the vitreous than electric diathermy or the ultra-intense light known as laser beam.”

At times large tears in the retina fold back and the flaps become stuck from behind. What can be done about that? Surgical tables have been used that turn the patient upside down so that the force of gravity causes the flap to fall free. In stubborn cases, a needle with a tiny balloon at its tip is inserted into the eye. This is positioned in the fold and inflated, thus gently breaking the adhesions that may have formed. Then the doctor employs usual methods to reattach the retina.

One innovative treatment for retinal detachment has gained much popularity in recent years. This is known as scleral buckling. It involves cutting a thin channel in the sclera at the spot where the retina has become detached. Then the doctor fastens a small silicone rubber tube in the channel. This buckles the sclera inward, pushing it and the choroid against the retina. Concerning this treatment Medical Tribune states:

“Scleral buckling diminishes the pull of the vitreous membranes on the retina by depressing, or buckling, the sclera, thus reducing the size of the vitreous cavity. Then, using diathermy, cryosurgery, or photocoagulation, a scar is produced that closes the retinal breaks, thus permitting reattachment of the retina.”

As to the effectiveness of procedures for correcting detached retinas, Dr. Charles L. Schepens, president of the Retina Foundation of Boston, points out: “Reparative surgery after detachment is about 85 per cent successful, but between 10 and 20 percent of these patients must undergo more than one operation.” Dr. Schepens then adds a sobering note: “If the retina has been completely detached for two years or more, the chances for functional success are nil.”

Is your problem a detached retina? It makes sense to find out; and the sooner you seek help, the better.

[Diagram on page 17]

(For fully formatted text, see publication)

Eye with normal retina

IRIS

CORNEA

LENS

VITREOUS HUMOR

SCLERA

CHOROID

RETINA

OPTIC NERVE

[Diagram on page 18]

(For fully formatted text, see publication)

A DETACHED RETINA

IRIS

CORNEA

LENS

SCLERA

CHOROID

RETINA (has pulled away from choroid)

Faith in God, A Way of Life

A POLL of Americans taken by the Center for Policy Research in 1974 showed that 69 percent were “absolutely certain that God exists.” Could this be said to mean that all of these had faith in God? Hardly! Why not? Because faith in God is a way of life.

There is a vast difference between believing that God exists and having faith in God. Thus the citizens of a country might know that a certain politician exists. But would that mean that they all put faith in him to the extent that they would vote for him to be their president? Not by any means!

The Bible writer James makes this very point: “You have faith enough to believe that there is one God. Excellent! The devils have faith like that, and it makes them tremble. But can you not see, you quibbler, that faith divorced from deeds is barren? As the body is dead when there is no breath left in it, so faith divorced from deeds is lifeless as a corpse.” In other words, faith in God is a way of life, it results in action, or else it is a dead corpselike faith.​—Jas. 2:19, 20, 26, New English Bible.

Jesus Christ made this same point time and time again. Thus he concluded his Sermon on the Mount with an illustration contrasting the wise man who acted upon Jesus’ words, making them his way of life, with the foolish man who was content merely to listen to what Jesus said but did nothing about it. Likewise Jesus strongly censured those who ‘drew near to God with their lips but whose hearts were far removed from God.’ He also severely castigated those religious hypocrites who “say but do not perform.” (Matt. 7:24-27; 15:8; 23:1-4) In thus commenting on the hypocrisy of certain ones Jesus was quoting from the prophet Isaiah, indicating that a like situation existed in the prophet’s day.​—Isa. 29:13.

And the same is true of ever so many today who profess to have faith in God. Thus an editorial in Theology Today, April 1974, stated that “Christians, by and large, are not demonstrably more loving, more tolerant, or more humane than those of other religions or of no religion at all.” But should they not be more loving, more humane, more tolerant, since the Teacher and Exemplar whom they profess to follow set the highest standards in these respects? Sad to say, it is today even as it was years ago when a certain popular American essayist was moved to ask, “Every stoic was a stoic, but in Christendom where is the Christian?”

Yes, faith in God as taught and practiced by Jesus Christ is not merely a matter of believing but is a way of life. That is why in the beginning, nineteen hundred years ago, it was known as “The Way.” Thus we read that Saul (Paul) of Tarsus, before he converted and himself became a follower of Jesus Christ, persecuted “any whom he found who belonged to The Way, both men and women.”​—Acts 9:2; see also Acts 19:9, 23; 22:4; 24:22.

Knowledge a Prime Requisite

Well has it been said, “Faith is taking God at His word.” But how can one take God at his word if one knows little if anything about what God has said in his Word? As the apostle Paul wrote: “How will they call on him in whom they have not put faith? How, in turn, will they put faith in him of whom they have not heard?” (Rom. 10:14) That is why the Christian witnesses of Jehovah do not depend upon charismatic religious orators to convert people. Not at all. Rather, they first go from house to house looking for those who are ‘groaning and sighing’ because of the wickedness that they see in the world and who are ‘conscious of their spiritual need.’​—Ezek. 9:4; Matt. 5:3.

The Witnesses teach such willing learners what God’s Word, the Bible, has to say about God’s qualities and attributes, his deeds and his requirements for his earthly creatures. In this way the Witnesses carry out Jesus’ command: “Go therefore and make disciples . . . teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you.” Such observing means a way of life.​—Matt. 28:19, 20.

Starting Out Right

As a result of such knowledge and faith in God these learners are prepared to pay the cost for making their faith in God a way of life. Typical of what it costs some to do so are the expressions made by persons who were baptized at the “Divine Victory” Assemblies in Argentina early in 1974. There was Mr. C. H., who related: “Four months before entering the military service I came to an accurate knowledge of Bible truth. This presented me with an important decision. I decided for Jehovah. Although I have been sentenced to three years in prison in the Campo De Mayo, I am very happy today to be baptized as a witness of Jehovah.”

And Mr. A. L. said regarding himself: “I was a well-known comedian on television. I learned the truth that Jehovah has a clean organization. Because of my type of work I had a serious decision to make. After much prayer Jehovah gave me the strength to make the right decision. So I began canceling all contracts that required me to act in immoral shows, those out of harmony with Bible principles. I lost much of my popularity on TV as well as much income in doing so. But I was glad to do it for the privilege of serving Jehovah God.”

Successfully meeting another kind of test as to her way of life was Mrs. L. M. As she told it: “When I first began to study the Bible with the Christian witnesses of Jehovah my husband did not oppose me. But as the Bible study progressed he became a real opposer. In my first assignment in the Theocratic School he came to the Kingdom Hall and told me, ‘You will have to choose between Jehovah’s Witnesses and me.’ I told him I would decide for Jehovah God. After fifteen years of marriage, my husband got a legal separation and we actually are separated. Nevertheless, I am glad to be here at this assembly and to be baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses.” Many, many more such examples could be given that serve to show that faith in God involves not merely believing that he exists but living a life in harmony with God’s expressed Word.

Continuing in the Way

After starting out right one must continue in the right way and be rightly motivated. A Christian must ‘pay back Caesar’s things to Caesar,’ by obeying the laws of the land, including those on paying taxes. (Matt. 22:21) He does so, not only because of fear of penalties, but also because of conscience. As the apostle Paul counsels: “There is therefore compelling reason for you people to be in subjection, not only on account of that wrath but also on account of your conscience. For that is why you are also paying taxes.” (Rom. 13:5, 6) In this regard Jehovah’s Christian witnesses have been publicly commended time and time again because of their dutifulness in paying their taxes.

The godly way of life includes also working conscientiously as an employee. Today many workers do as little as possible or are men pleasers, working only when the boss is looking. But the true Christian goes by such Bible principles as: “Be obedient in everything to those who are your masters. . . . Whatever you are doing, work at it whole-souled as to Jehovah, and not to men, for you know that it is from Jehovah you will receive the due reward.” (Col. 3:22-24) As a result of heeding such counsel the Christian witnesses have gained for themselves a good reputation as workers. Typical of the result of their teaching is the course taken by a young woman who had been studying the Bible with the Witnesses only a short time. Her companions taunted her for working so conscientiously even when the boss was not looking. She replied: “But there is Someone above that is looking all the time.”

Among other areas that might be mentioned wherein God is involved in one’s way of life, there is marital fidelity. God’s Word plainly says: “Let marriage be honorable among all, and the marriage bed be without defilement, for God will judge fornicators and adulterers.” (Heb. 13:4) While more and more clergymen disagree with God’s Word in this matter, true Christians will abide by God’s requirements. Here again the Christian witnesses of Jehovah have made a fine reputation for themselves. Thus the New Catholic Encyclopedia in discussing “Jehovah’s Witnesses” states that “their conjugal and sexual morality is quite rigid.” Yes, as rigid as is the Bible.​—Vol. 7, p. 864.

Bearing Witness

Perhaps the most striking aspect of where real faith in God marks it as a way of life is in one’s activity of witnessing, preaching and teaching. Thus Jesus commanded his followers to let their light shine before men, and warned them not to be ashamed to confess him before men or he would be ashamed to confess them before his heavenly Father. (Matt. 5:14-16; Mark 8:38) In particular did he put this obligation upon his followers in his closing words to them: “Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them.” And his early disciples understood his words, for we read that upon being scattered by persecution they “went through the land declaring the good news.”​—Matt. 28:19, 20; Acts 8:4.

In fact, so industrious were they that the apostle Paul could write of “that good news which you heard, and which was preached in all creation that is under heaven.” (Col. 1:23) Jesus also foretold that “this good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come.” (Matt. 24:14) Here again, Jehovah’s Witnesses today are alone in making preaching and teaching a way of life. Thus during the month of April 1976 an incomplete report shows that 2,153,539 of them shared in preaching and teaching and that they conducted 1,373,707 home Bible studies.

Yes, faith in God is indeed a way of life. It brings satisfaction, peace of mind and happiness. It is not merely a matter of believing in God and Christ Jesus but of living by Bible principles and sharing in making known the truth about God, Jesus Christ and their kingdom. This is what Jehovah’s Christian witnesses are doing and they stand ready to help any who wish to adopt this way of life.

The Seychelles​—Man’s Lost Paradise?

By “Awake!” correspondent in Kenya

THE “Forgotten Islands,” the “Islands of Love” and the “original Garden of Eden.” These names have been applied to a little-known group of islands in the Indian Ocean. They are situated midway between the east coast of Africa and India’s southern shores. The Seychelles archipelago has been relatively unknown to the outside world since its discovery by the Portuguese in the days of Vasco da Gama. Only now are these islands coming out of isolation.

“The original Garden of Eden” is the term used by General Gordon of Khartoum fame in 1881, when he first visited the island of Praslin, the second largest of this group of eighty-six atolls. And no wonder! In the Seychelles, one finds white sand, tropical beaches fringed with swaying coconut palms, and a transparent sea that changes from pale green to indigo blue. These waters are filled with hundreds of species of tropical fish, as well as numerous varieties of shells. Offshore coral reefs, lush vegetation and a warm temperate climate make these islands seem all the more ‘Edenic.’

Unlike most tropical islands, the Seychelles are not subjected to cyclones and hurricanes, poisonous snakes or dangerous animals. Here you can find peace and quiet in an unbelievably beautiful setting. Lonely coves, isolated beaches, rare flowers and birds, sunbathing, snorkeling and fishing amidst a warm, friendly, hospitable people​—this is life in the Seychelles.

The advent of the jet age and the government’s increasingly tourist-oriented attitude have opened these beautiful islands to the outside world. Although the flow of tourists has increased greatly in recent years, the Seychelles still reflect their long isolation, having deserted tropical beaches. On Mahé, the most accessible of these islands, over 80 percent of the total population of 60,000 is concentrated. Yet it also has lonely coves where lapping waves and a gentle breeze through the palms are the only sounds likely to breach the stillness.

From any of the majestic mountain peaks forming the spinal cord of Mahé, you can enjoy a tremendous panoramic view of the many beaches and adjacent islands. From atop Mount Seychellois, lying to the northwest, you can see one of the finest beaches anywhere in the world. This is Beau Vallon, a great crescent of white sand fringed with shady coconut palms and takamaka trees. In the distance, the expanse of blue sea is interrupted by the imposing shape of Silhouette, a thickly forested island culminating in a dramatic mountain peak. As the sun dips slowly below the horizon, a serene atmosphere of relaxation and peace prevails.

The Seychelles are of interest, not only to the ‘paradise seeker,’ but to the naturalist. Due to their isolation in the midst of the ocean, away from any continental land mass, these islands are the home of some of the rarest birds, mammals, fish and plant life on earth. Actually, some life here is found nowhere else in the world.

Vallée de Mai

As one walks through the lush tropical growth of Praslin’s Vallée de Mai, it is easy to picture what General Gordon had in mind when he called this place “the original Garden of Eden.” In the Vallée de Mai there are no less than eighty species of plants, many of them found only on these islands. Praslin, once called “the Isle of Palms,” is undisturbed by the advances of twentieth-century progress.

The Seychelles have six unique species of palms, and all six grow in and around the Vallée de Mai. The most famous of these is the coco-de-mer, or double coconut. Some have believed that this was “the tree of the knowledge of good and bad” mentioned in the Bible book of Genesis. (Gen. 2:16, 17) Of course, this view lacks any sound basis. Before the Seychelles were discovered, these strange, bilobed nuts were found washed ashore on the Maldive Islands. People thought the tree bearing these great nuts lived under the sea. So, it was called coco-de-mer, meaning “sea coconut,” according to French.

There are about 4,000 of these great palms growing in the Vallée de Mai. Towering above such vegetation as screw pines, jackfruit and latte palms, these huge trees at maturity reach a height of about 100 feet (30 meters) for the male and 80 feet (24 meters) for the female. It is estimated that a full century is required for the tree to reach maturity. After this, it can live for several hundred years. The nut itself takes three years to germinate and nearly seven to reach maturity. And these enormous double-coconuts can weigh up to 40 pounds (18 kilograms)!

Other Natural Attractions

Cousin Island’s lone human inhabitant is the warden. He cares for the island, which is the only internationally sponsored nature reserve in the Indian Ocean. Cousin Island is the breeding ground of many species of birds. It is the home of the notable brush warbler, not especially attractive, but very active and an enchanting singer. This bird is found nowhere else in the world. In this archipelago, one finds many rare birds, such as the Seychelles kestrel, white eye owl, Scops owl and the paradise flycatcher, until recently thought to be extinct. The better-known islands of Beacon, Bird, Cerf, La Digue, Moyenne and St. Anne all add their fine beaches, coral formations, rare fish and plant life to the beauty of the Seychelles.

Added to this, there is the unparalleled beauty of the underwater life. Corals, the delicate animals that appear like plants or even lifeless rocks, form great reefs surrounding these islands. They naturally provide a home for hundreds of animal and plant species.

One can spend hours in the sea snorkeling, as the lagoons and sheltered bays are a haven for the explorer. Indeed, there is dramatic underwater terrain where the delicate gardens of coral and a myriad of colorful fish are to be found, explored and enjoyed! In clear waters one can catch big game fish like marlin, sail or tuna. Here are found 800 species of fish and 120 varieties of shells. Truly, the natural beauty and splendor of these marvelous works of creation may well cause one to think of that first paradise home of man, the Garden of Eden.

Mahé, with its international airport built on land reclaimed from the sea, is the Seychelles’ link with the outside world. Upon arriving on Mahé, you see peaks rising about 3,000 feet (914 meters) from the sea. Their lower levels are covered with coconut plantations, while thick forests carpet higher elevations. Following the zigzag road from the airport, along the ocean on the northeast side of the island, one comes to Victoria, the capital. After a while, you get accustomed to these narrow roads snaking their way around the island, in and out of its many coves and bays and over the mountains to the opposite side. Besides private cars, there are the wide lorries used for public transportation.

Victoria is nestled snugly in the shadow of a three-peaked mountain known as Les Trois Frères. The capital currently is undergoing many changes. Victoria and Mahé are preparing to play host to the ever-increasing number of tourists visiting the islands. New hotels are being constructed. A large area recently was reclaimed from the sea to provide new port facilities and to allow for town expansion.

The Seychellois

The people of the Seychelles are like the islands themselves, of handsome appearance, unusually warm, friendly and hospitable. But, initially, they can be a bit shy with strangers, as Western life and styles are new to many. After a short time, however, you feel like old acquaintances.

Life is casual. Time and other factors that dominate elsewhere are not so important here. People simply enjoy life. Since these islands were uninhabited until the eighteenth century, there are no indigenous people of the Seychelles. The Seychellois today are a race of many origins. They are a mixture of African, European, Chinese, Indian and Malay. Among the Seychellois, therefore, there is a complete range of color and features. The majority of the population has descended from nineteenth-century slaves rescued from certain sailing ships. Many have French names due to France’s early influence in the islands. All speak the local language, Creole. Due to more recent British influence, English is the official language and is understood by a good number of Seychellois.

The people are spread out over the island of Mahé in little clusters of houses. Victoria is the only real population center. The typical house is of wooden construction with a thatched roof and is raised slightly on stilts. Walls may be of wood, pressboard, cardboard or even corrugated sheeting. The houses are normally situated on steep hills surrounded by breadfruit trees, coconut palms, cinnamon trees, and plants that produce bananas and vanilla.

Livestock lives close to the home and sometimes in the house. The staple diet of the people consists of rice, fish, even shark, heart of the palm tree, heart of the coconut, bamboo shoots, eggplant, breadfruit cakes and several varieties of vegetables. The Seychellois are very good cooks and love highly seasoned foods. A local popular drink, known as Toddy, is made from the fermented juice of the coconut tree’s flowering spikes.

Problems exist here, nonetheless, as they do elsewhere in the world. For example, the Seychellois will caution you against leaving your things on the beach, as they may be stolen. Also, due to the varied backgrounds of the people, there is a slight racial problem. Some consider themselves superior to others. The use of drugs is becoming an increasing problem with the young people. Despite the fact that a majority of the population claims to be associated with a number of Christendom’s major religious groups, a promiscuous way of life prevails. This naturally produces related problems. Also, to some extent, superstitious practices still exist. So, the Seychelles, like the rest of the world, must wait for the return of paradise, as promised in God’s Word.​—Luke 23:43.

Paradise Restored

At present, these lovely islands still retain much of their natural beauty. Of course, with the great influx of tourists and the introduction of new life-styles, values change as different ways are adopted. But the government has pledged to prevent the corrupting of the natural beauty of these tropical islands.

The search for and the enjoyment of areas like the Seychelles indicate man’s innate desire to live in beautiful, peaceful surroundings. This is natural, since man once lived in paradise. Of course, the type of paradise enjoyed by the first man on earth is not found anywhere today. However, these beautiful islands give evidence that God can restore paradise, not only in the Seychelles, but earth wide.

What Is the Bible’s View?

Christian Giving​—How?

WHEN was the last time someone asked you to “give”? In many areas people are continually hounded by requests for money or other types of gifts for various charitable causes. Prospective donors often receive literature advertising drawings for prizes or perhaps depicting horribly deformed or emaciated children.

How should you respond when someone asks you to give?

The Scriptures encourage generosity. Under divine inspiration Moses counseled his fellow Israelites: “You must not harden your heart or be close-fisted toward your poor brother. For you should generously open your hand to him.”​—Deut. 15:7, 8.

The Bible provides many fine examples of the spirit of giving. One of these was in connection with an unfortunate situation that arose during the first century C.E. When Christians in Judea became materially impoverished, fellow worshipers willingly came to their aid. (Rom. 15:26; 1 Cor. 16:1, 2) In this regard, Christians at Macedonia came in for special mention. “From the depths of their poverty,” writes the apostle Paul, “they have shown themselves lavishly open-handed. Going to the limit of their resources, as I can testify, and even beyond that limit, they begged us most insistently, and on their own initiative, to be allowed to share in this generous service to their fellow-Christians.”​—2 Cor. 8:2-4, The New English Bible.

But never should a person feel compelled to give. Concerning the above-mentioned relief work for needy fellow Christians, the apostle Paul writes: “Let each one do just as he has resolved in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”​—2 Cor. 9:7.

What about charitable organizations that solicit money? Does this type of giving identify one as meeting the Scriptural obligation to be generous? Not necessarily, since donations to any cause may stem from wrong motives. In such cases even large-scale giving is worthless in God’s eyes. The apostle Paul writes: “if I give all my belongings to feed others, and if I hand over my body, that I may boast, but do not have love, I am not profited at all.”​—1 Cor. 13:3.

Some organizations actually encourage wrong motives by publicizing the names of their donors. Jesus counseled against seeking such publicity, saying: “When you do some act of charity, do not announce it with a flourish of trumpets, as the hypocrites do in synagogue and in the streets to win admiration from men. I tell you this: they have their reward already. No; when you do some act of charity do not let your left hand know what your right is doing; your good deed must be secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.”​—Matt. 6:1-3, NE.

Another thing to consider is that not all who seek a handout are worthy of your hard-earned money or other valuable things. For instance, the Scriptures state: “Because of winter the lazy one will not plow; he will be begging in reaping time, but there will be nothing.” (Prov. 20:4) Poverty and hunger are the expected thing for such lazy ones. “If anyone does not want to work,” says the Word of God, “neither let him eat.”​—2 Thess. 3:10.

As for charitable organizations, many have proved to be frauds; and even legitimate ones frequently send but a tiny amount of the money they collect to advertised worthy causes. “According to the State Board of Social Welfare,” writes Francis Cerral in the New York Times, “charities raise about $22 billion a year in the United States and $2 billion in New York. But in some cases, no money or as little as 5 or 10 percent of it ends up going to the charitable purpose, with the rest being pocketed by the fund-raisers.” Back in 1974 one church-sponsored charity collected $3.3 million. Astonishingly, only $54,000 reached the advertised charity. An indication of what happened to the rest is seen in the fact that $45,000 went to one of the church’s clergymen, and $110,000 to three of his assistants.

It is important to realize, too, that, according to the Bible, charitable organizations can never eliminate or appreciably reduce all poverty and other things that afflict mankind. Because of inherited sin and invisible rule by Satan and his demons, the present system of things has always been marred by such woes. (Rom. 5:12; Eph. 6:12; Rev. 12:9) Jesus therefore declared: “You always have the poor with you.” (Matt. 26:11) These things will disappear only when God’s kingdom sweeps away this system and extends a new system of divine rule earth wide.​—Dan. 2:34, 35, 44.

Does this mean that it is altogether wrong for Christians to give to charitable organizations? No. Certain charities do accomplish a measure of good. So, it is a matter of personal choice as to whether a person donates to such a cause.

As noted earlier, however, there is a Scriptural requirement to be openhanded and generous. (Deut. 15:7, 8; 1 Tim. 6:18) This is possible even when individuals do not have spare cash to donate. How so?

Perhaps the most important place to demonstrate the spirit of giving is right in the family circle. Marriage mates and family members must give time and attentiveness to one another. Do you pay attention when your marriage mate or other family members talk to you? Are you genuinely interested in what they say and do?

Perhaps your material possessions are few. But could you use them in ways more beneficial to others? Offering transportation to persons who cannot get around by themselves, running errands for those elderly or infirm, or just spending some time with lonely individuals are effective ways to display Christian generosity.

Besides things like these, the Scriptures admonish Christians to give out publicly “this good news of the kingdom,” helping their neighbors to learn of God’s purposes and how to gain his approval. (Matt. 24: 14) Regarding this vital aspect of Christian giving, the apostle Paul declared: “If, now, I am declaring the good news, it is no reason for me to boast, for necessity is laid upon me. Really, woe is me if I did not declare the good news!” (1 Cor. 9:16) Are you having a regular share in this activity?

The Scriptures require worshipers of God to be generous. But since charitable donations may stem from wrong motives, or go into the pockets of greedy persons, not all of this type of giving conforms to Biblical requirements. Rather than limiting generosity to giving away money or material possessions, the Bible urges Christians to give of themselves, especially to those of their own households.​—1 Tim. 5:8.

Watching the World

‘Dangerous World’

◆ The world now spends about 300 billion dollars a year on armaments. Six nations have nuclear weapons, and an estimated twenty other nations have the ability to manufacture them. Within nine years, another fifteen countries are expected to have this ability. Thus an editorial in the New York Times noted: “The world ahead in the last years of the Seventies is likely to be, as one of our wisest observers . . . recently remarked, an enormously complex place, with nobody in general charge​—‘leaderless, dangerous, uneconomic, unjust and ungovernable.’”

Technology ‘Prison’

◆ R. F. Rushmer, a professor of bioengineering from the University of Washington, says that now it is “time for a new revolution that will free us from entrapment and enslavement by our most valued possessions.” Why? Modern technology is “endangering mankind,” and the misuse and abuse of “our favorite creations have degraded the rich promises originally intended,” he declared. Technological triumphs, such as television, atomic energy, advanced medical procedures and other processes that were once hailed as solutions to problems, have, instead, he observed, created huge problems now. For example, Rushmer said, automobiles could have had real value, but their “unrestrained numbers, weight, speed and use have resulted in excessive congestion, waste, slaughter and sprawl.”

Where the People Live

◆ Half the world’s four billion people live in just four countries: China, India, the Soviet Union and the United States. The Environmental Fund in Washington claims that China now has 964 million inhabitants, not just the 850 million usually mentioned. India is said to have 652 million people, the Soviet Union 256 million, and the United States 222 million. Indonesia is fifth in population with a reported 143 million.

The world’s fastest-growing country (in percentage) is Kuwait, with an annual increase of over 6 percent compared to the world rate of about 2 percent. Four countries have achieved “zero population growth”​—Barbados, Britain, Austria and Malta. West Germany’s growth rate is only 0.1 percent. East Germany is reported to be “shrinking” by 0.2 percent and Portugal by 0.4 percent.

More Televisions

◆ “A picture is worth a thousand words,” it has been said. Statistics confirm that people respond to pictures. The growth of television everywhere is one indication. Its spread has been truly phenomenal. Indeed, most lands now have more TV sets than either automobiles or telephones, although these were invented about a half century or more earlier. The Soviet Union has about 50 million TV sets, but only about 15 million telephones and fewer than seven million cars.

Effects of Marijuana

◆ The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics, published in New York, makes the following statements about some of the possible effects of smoking marijuana: “Psychotic reactions have been observed on first smoking marijuana as well as after long use. . . . Hallucinations have occurred while a user was driving . . . Congestion of the conjunctiva, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting are also common. Other adverse effects include tremulousness and impairment of coordination. Smoking marijuana over many years may cause bronchitis and emphysema, but most patients in whom this was observed also used tobacco.

“Smoke from marijuana cigarettes, like smoke from tobacco cigarettes, accelerates malignant transformation of lung cells in tissue culture . . . In a careful, well-controlled study of driving in city traffic after smoking both high and low doses of marijuana . . . forty-two per cent of those on low doses . . . and 63 per cent of those on high doses . . . showed a decline in their driving ability.”

Farm Views Differ

◆ When fifteen farm specialists from the Soviet Union visited farmers in the United States, their views on farming differed considerably. One of the Soviet farmers stated: “We will never let our farmers work as many hours as your farmers do. We think the man has a right to his holidays and personal life. He may produce less in production but we will never let a farmer work 12 to 14 hours a day. It is against the law in our country.” He admitted that American farmers make more profit by working longer, but added: “We don’t think just profit and dollars is the main thing in the world.”

Rare Birth

◆ A newborn elephant weighs about 200 pounds and stands about three feet high, so it is understandable why multiple births are very rare. But twin elephants have been born at a game reserve in the African nation of Tanzania. It is believed to be the only confirmed and recorded twin-elephant birth of recent times.

Timber Theft

◆ Timber stealing is “a real racket, fast approaching the level of organized crime,” said a special agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Oregon. The value of logs stolen from federal lands in just the state of Oregon will exceed one million dollars this year, he estimates. The main target of the timber thieves is old-growth western red cedar, which can be sold for $150 to $500 a cord. Investigations of these thefts make up about 20 percent of the work load of the 75 FBI agents assigned to Oregon.

Tab Openers Changing

◆ The metal “pull-out” tabs such as are used on soft-drink cans to open them have been greatly criticized. They are easy to litter and hard to clean up. Animals and fish have died after swallowing them. Children and even adults have required emergency surgery after swallowing them accidentally. But now, can companies are trying out a new tab that is not disconnected from the can. After lifting up the new tab to open the can, the user pushes the tab back to its original flat position. The tab stays on the can and is disposed of along with it.

Southerners Smile More?

◆ According to some behavioral scientists, Southerners generally smile more in the presence of strangers than do other Americans. Professor R. Birdwhistell of the University of Pennsylvania stated: “The lowest ratio of smiling occurs in parts of New England and the Great Lakes region. New York city is low. It picks up again across the Midwest,” and then is highest down South. It is also noted that ‘one smile elicits another in response.’ While no reason was given for the difference, it is possible that the colder northern climates, and especially the more hectic pace, pressures and crime rates of the large northern cities, have much to do with it.

Smallpox Now Rare

◆ The ten-year program against smallpox by the World Health Organization has achieved remarkable success. It was begun in 1966, when more than 30 countries reported smallpox epidemics. At present, Ethiopia is one of the few places that report any significant amount of the disease, and there too it is being reduced drastically. Scientific American says that before long “the world may have seen its last case of the most devastating disease in human history.”

Slapping Harmful to Babies?

◆ A traditional method of handling a newborn baby is to hold it up by the ankles and slap it on the rump to make it cry and start breathing. But Dr. Edmund Crelin, professor of anatomy at Yale Medical School, says that if the infant could talk it would say: “Stop! Don’t lift me up by my ankles and don’t spank me!” He says that this procedure does the infant no good, and may even damage it. Dr. Crelin claims that this method is responsible for one out of every 400 newborns’ developing a dislocated hip. Grabbing the infant by the ankles, he says, places unnatural pressure on its hips, and the added slap may put further stress on the hip joints. He suggests that the infant should not be held up by the ankles, but, instead, cradled in the arms.

Electronic Check Deposits

◆ Millions of people in the United States have their weekly or monthly income checks sent directly to the bank where they have their deposits. Now, more and more of such payments are being handled electronically. No checks are involved at all. Instead, the money is transferred to the banks by computer tapes. Almost all government transactions for individual payments are now handled in this way, and the use of this electronic technique by private firms is expected to grow dramatically in the next few years.

Metric Conversion

◆ Britain is converting its present system of weights and measures to the metric system, which is used by most countries. The British and Foreign Bible Society notes that in the “Good News” Bible metric numbers are used. For instance, instead of measuring Noah’s ark in cubits or feet, it is “133 meters long, 22 meters wide and 13 meters high.” Goliath is about three meters tall instead of six cubits and a span, and his armor weighs about 57 kilograms instead of five thousand shekels of brass.

Suing Public Schools

◆ Several suits have recently been leveled against schools because of the inability of children to read and write well. For example, an eighteen-year-old San Francisco youth sued the public schools there because he graduated from high school with only fifth-grade reading and writing ability. And in recent years, various studies have indeed indicated a drop in these skills. However, his suit was rejected in the State Supreme Court.

Fear Takes Its Toll

◆ An elderly couple in their late seventies with all they needed materially committed suicide in New York city. Why? The note they left behind said: “We don’t want to live in fear anymore.” They had been assaulted and robbed in their apartment the previous month, and had also been the victims of crimes before that. Feeling that they were too old to move and start over, they concluded that they simply ‘could not take it’ anymore.

Car Costs Soar

◆ The average price of an automobile in the United States increased about 35 percent in the last four years. The cost of gasoline went up about 50 percent. Automobile insurance rose sharply, over 50 percent in many areas, as inflation made auto repairs and medical expenses more costly. Last year, the average cost of operating a car was 23.5 cents a mile, compared to 14.7 cents a mile in 1972.

How Many Gamble?

◆ A thorough study on gambling made at the University of Michigan reveals that almost two out of three Americans make some kind of bet. Those who bet on commercial gambling games spent more than 22 billion dollars, about a quarter of that on illegal games. Gambling taxes and losses fall most heavily on those who can least afford them​—the low-income groups, since they spend proportionately more of their income on bets than do wealthier persons.

Eskimo Communications

◆ For many years Eskimos of the far north had no written language, but passed on information only orally. Now Eskimo leaders are promoting acceptance of a writing system. that uses two forms, Roman letters and phonetic symbols representing syllables. The dual system is designed to replace five separate writing forms developed by missionaries in recent years in different regions. Though the language, called Inukutut, is spoken in much of the north, separate writing systems hindered communication among scattered Eskimo settlements. The proposed standardization of just two forms was a compromise to satisfy those Eskimos already devoted to one or the other. The systems are interchangeable.

The United Nations​—A Dangerous Wild Beast?

Did you know that in the Bible the United Nations is represented as a dangerous wild beast? The 384-page book Man’s Salvation out of World Distress at Hand! explains why. Read its absorbing chapter, “When Man’s Old Order Makes Way for God’s New Order.” The book is only 50 cents, postpaid.

Please send the book Man’s Salvation out of World Distress at Hand! along with the gift booklet A Secure Future​—How You Can Find It. I enclose 50c.

What Is God’s Name?

Did you know that God has a name? Open the Bible to Psalm 83:18, and read: “You, whose name is Jehovah, you alone are the Most High over all the earth.” Learn about the Most High God. Read the Bible.

The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures is a fine, hardbound Bible of over 1,400 pages, complete with concordance, appendix and maps. It will be sent to you, postpaid, along with the 192-page Bible study aid Good News​—to Make You Happy, for only $1.25. Send today.

Please send the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures and the hardbound book Good News​—to Make You Happy. Enclosed is $1.25.