September 22

How Can You Add Purpose to Your Life?

A LIFETIME of seventy or eighty years is about as much as most people hope for. And, really, that is far too short to be spending long periods experimenting with a variety of efforts to make life purposeful. There are, after all, definite limits as to just how many fields a person can explore in the years of his adult life. How disappointing and frustrating it would be to find that you had wasted precious years in the pursuit of goals that proved fruitless! But just how can this useless experimenting be avoided?

We can profit greatly by considering the experience of others. Why are they happy or miserable, contented or dissatisfied? Surely it would be foolish to start out on a course of life that has repeatedly proved frustrating and disappointing to all who have undertaken it.

However, merely acknowledging that a certain goal is not truly worth while will not of itself prevent us from experiencing an empty, meaningless life. Often people are heard to say, ‘Money isn’t everything.’ Yet many of the very same people show by their materialistic way of life that, at heart, they really do not believe this. Hence, if you want to add purpose to your life, you must be willing to profit from the experiences of others and apply yourself in avoiding their mistakes.

Very ancient writings available to most persons today can be most helpful to you in this regard. About three thousand years ago there lived an exceptionally wise man who was able to undertake an extensive survey of human activities. He also made a record of his findings, a record that has been preserved with amazing accuracy clear down to our twentieth century. What he discovered has endured the test of time. Millions have profited from his account. By acting in harmony with the sound conclusions this wise man, King Solomon, set forth, they have avoided pitfalls that could have plunged them into a life of disappointment and frustration. Why have Solomon’s writings proved to be so beneficial?

His outstanding wisdom came from a superhuman source, namely, from man’s Maker, Jehovah God. (1 Ki. 3:11, 12) Ecclesiastes, the book that contains Solomon’s observations, forms a part of “all Scripture [that] is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness.” (2 Tim. 3:16) So, when we consider what Solomon wrote, we are getting the benefit of experience of the highest value. All the observations and conclusions are accurate, as Solomon was under the guidance of God’s holy spirit.

The book of Ecclesiastes forcefully shows up the folly of a life centered exclusively around the pursuit of pleasure, culture, riches or knowledge as an end in itself. It reveals a balanced view of work and of the enjoyment of its fruitage. This book realistically presents the inequities of an imperfect world and provides sound guidelines for coping with them.

In a powerful way, the book of Ecclesiastes emphasizes that life can have purpose whenever persons have a wholesome regard for the Creator and seek to keep his commands. Solomon wrote: “The conclusion of the matter, everything having been heard, is: Fear the true God and keep his commandments. For this is the whole obligation of man. For the true God himself will bring every sort of work into the judgment in relation to every hidden thing, as to whether it is good or bad.”​—Eccl. 12:13, 14.

Why not take the opportunity to read the book of Ecclesiastes? Then, by applying the lessons it presents, see for yourself how realistic it is in showing what truly can add purpose to your life.

A Worthy Goal In Life​—How I Found It

I WOULD have pursued an academic life had it not been for my being introduced to surfboard riding at the age of fourteen. Interest in all other activities took second place for several years. Along with my newfound friends, I traveled up and down Australia’s east coast looking for good waves.

My lure was Queensland’s Gold Coast, a strip of at least a dozen golden-sand beaches that have been commercialized to become the largest and most popular tourist resort area in Australia.

But enthusiasm for the surf eventually cooled. Then another interest began consuming my time​—gambling on horses. The first time that I placed a bet, the horse won. I was soon to wish that it had lost! During my weekly trips to the races I had such consistent losses that some of my friends nicknamed me ‘the bookies’ buddy.’ Constantly without funds, I depended on my flat-mate to advance me some money.

At the age of twenty-one I seriously began to look for a secure job in order to make a success of myself. I worked part time as a barman in a Returned Serviceman’s Club. The actions of well-respected men during their recreation hours made me wonder whether I was striving after yet another fruitless goal in pursuing a career.

Soon I moved on again and took a job as a waiter in a hotel at one of Australia’s snow resorts. One could view firsthand the inequalities of the world. While thousands were starving in one part of the world, I would be tipped up to $60 for work I was being paid to do anyway.

Later, the value of some land that I owned had become so “inflated” that it gave a good profit. In partnership with a friend, we bought a 200-acre (80-hectare) farm. My girl friend and I lived in a ‘home of our own’ on a hundred acres (40 hectares) in a picturesque valley near the Gold Coast beaches. We had no intention of getting married; we had seen too many friends end up with the heartache of a broken marriage and we viewed the ‘exchanging of vows’ as an unnecessary social evil.

Then, one morning when I was sitting down at the farm smoking marijuana and having a couple of beers with two friends, a young man came to the door saying something about the Bible. “Not interested; got my own ideas on the Bible,” I said. But he left a couple of magazines. I looked through them briefly. But then . . . what sort of God would allow so much suffering and injustice in the world?

Another Look at the Bible

About this time my old flat-mate arrived back from his holiday around the world. While on the island of Maui in Hawaii, he had come to believe that God was the Maker of the beautiful planet that we live on, and that the Bible was God’s Word to mankind. As he had previously been an atheist, I could hardly believe my ears. Being brought up in the Presbyterian and Methodist Churches, we disputed over whether religion had anything sensible and substantial to offer. Nevertheless, he felt that the Bible was from God and that it was well worth our close examination.

The few things that he showed me about the Bible caused me to think. We closely examined Matthew chapter 24. Regardless of what the Bible said, I had long felt that mankind was indeed in the last days. Yet here it was, in that chapter. It showed that the events that marked life in this twentieth century actually were foretold to mark the end of this system of things in our time. Soon we realized the advantages of seeking contact with others who were interested in molding their lives according to the Bible.

A Search for True Religion

First, I contacted an old Baptist friend and we listened to a sermon in a private home. Later, I wondered how people who really claimed to be Christians could go to war and kill professing Christians on the opposite side. This was not the type of religion that I felt God would approve. The next Sunday we set off for the Methodist church. On the way, we stopped at a Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses. I asked the man who met us if Jehovah’s Witnesses believed in Jesus as the Son of God who died for man’s sin. “Yes,” he replied.

“Do you believe that we are in the period of time that the Bible speaks of as the last days?”

“Yes,” he replied.

“And do you believe that shortly all of us Christians will be bodily taken up to meet our Lord in the air?”

“Not exactly,” he replied. “The Scriptures show that God’s purpose is for man to enjoy everlasting life right here on earth, and that only a comparatively small number will be needed in heaven to make up the Kingdom, which will rule over the earth.”

He showed me Revelation 7:4. We then were invited to enter the hall and listen to the public talk being delivered that morning.

The talk was entitled “How the Resurrection Benefits All the Dead in Hell.” The speaker was pointing out from the Scriptures the condition of the human dead and how God will resurrect the masses in the graves, thereby giving them the opportunity to live forever on a cleansed earth. How different the understanding these people have on hell, I thought. The speaker explained that hell is merely the common grave of all mankind. For our consultation later, the man who invited us inside took notes of the Scriptural references made.

Bible Answers to My Questions

After the meeting I had many questions. Why was the speaker constantly referring to God as Jehovah? Why don’t Jehovah’s Witnesses take blood transfusions? How is it that the Witnesses can publish Bible literature at a fraction of the cost that I had been paying for other publications at religious bookshops?

I was shown Bible answers to all my questions, and my curiosity about the “cheap” Bible literature was satisfied by my visiting the Australia branch of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society three days later. There I saw young men and women busy operating printing machines, packing Bible literature and dispatching it to all parts of the South Pacific​—all these persons working on a voluntary basis. I wanted to purchase some books for my friends. So, I approached the “brother” at the magazine dispatch counter who was happy to give me forty of the hardbound books Is the Bible Really the Word of God? and The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life, each for just 25 cents.

I must say I was impressed to see how thoroughly the Witnesses understood and used the Bible at that first meeting that we attended. My previous flat-mate wanted to attend services of a more “conventional” religion. So we decided to go along to the Methodist church that night. When we were walking into the church, one of the young men who was handing out hymn books saw the Bibles we brought along with us and said: “You won’t need those here.” He was right.

From that day on my girl friend and I never stopped going to the local Kingdom Hall to learn about the Bible. How quickly this helped us to progress in our understanding of the Bible and God’s purpose for the earth! We had no intention of keeping the fine things we were learning to ourselves. Soon twelve others joined us in our weekly study of God’s Word.

Within eighteen months, eight of us were able to clean out of our lives things that God will not allow under the heavenly rulership of his Son Jesus Christ. Thereafter, we presented ourselves for baptism. My wife and I are now working as full-time servants of Jehovah God. We have indeed found a worthy goal in life.​—Contributed.

Are All Your Affairs In Order?

By “Awake!” correspondent in South Africa

IT WAS too late to ask questions when her husband died unexpectedly from a heart attack. The estate was in chaos. Nobody really knew where to begin. Formerly unknown creditors began making an appearance. The experience of this South African housewife well illustrates the importance of having one’s affairs in order.

There is good reason for seeing to it that surviving dependents are left with a clear picture of their financial position and an up-to-date will outlining the distribution of assets.

While laws differ from country to country, there always is some provision for the orderly distribution of assets to the heirs of the deceased. In certain African tribes, a senior member of the family usually administers distribution of the possessions. However, where distribution is to be made through the courts, a legal declaration made by the individual prior to his death outlines what should be done with his property. This declaration becomes his will. Should there be no will at the time of his death, any assets he may leave behind will be distributed in the way prescribed by the local laws of succession. This could result in loss to the heirs or undue delays in receiving their share of the inheritance.

A will based on the prevailing laws of the country is known as a statutory will. When drafting such a will, a person designates an executor. If approved by the court, the executor will distribute and administer the estate as outlined in the will. In the event that liabilities exceed the assets, creditors usually are compensated on a pro rata basis. A statutory will must satisfy all legal formalities. Even a minor departure could jeopardize the validity of such a will. Hence, when making a will, a person needs to keep in mind just what the courts would consider.

The legal authority must establish beyond any doubt that the document is the bona fide will of the testator. Such confirmation rests on the validity of the testator’s signature. To this end, witnesses must have signed the will in one another’s presence, thereby confirming that the document is genuine and, to their best knowledge, represents the will of the testator.

The legality of the will itself may come into question. Have additions or deletions been made on the original document? If so, the law will doubtless require that the signatures of the testator and witnesses appear at amendments and on each page.

As long as a testator is alive, he can, of course, revoke his will. This cannot be done orally, but usually is accomplished by drafting a new will.

The making of a will can become a complex task, especially where a number of parties are involved or where benefits from investments or fixed property are to be executed in a specific way. Hence, it is very wise to seek competent assistance.

An untrained eye may not see that the wording could give rise to legal problems or that certain necessary procedures have been overlooked. The layman may not know all the factors that would call into question the competency of the testator and the witnesses. For example, the law may restrict the age of a testator and may indicate what would make a testator mentally incapable of drafting a will. To avoid any collusion and abuse, the law may stipulate that a witness cannot be a beneficiary in the will. Besides being precluded from any benefits, a witness or his spouse may be disqualified as an executor, administrator, trustee or guardian. In South African law, the person who writes or types the will is likewise disqualified from being a beneficiary, unless the will bears a special endorsement that states otherwise.

In view of such requirements, the signing of any document is not a perfunctory service. A responsible attitude should cause one to consider very carefully the implications and consequences of putting one’s name on paper.

Another factor that should be considered is whether a will is up-to-date. Even the best of wills are of little value when they no longer fit the facts. Circumstances change and a will should be amended or revised to meet the new requirements. This is especially so whenever remarriage takes place. Adequate provision should be made for dependents. When a will is revised, it is best to destroy former ones.

A will is a valuable document and should, therefore, be kept in a safe place. A lost will is technically nonexistent and could mean tragedy for dependents. So, it would be advantageous to have more than one copy. A copy could be filed with an attorney or bank and another copy kept with important documents elsewhere.

Besides the will, insurance policies, marriage certificates, title deeds and other documents have a direct bearing on an estate. Would it not be good to keep all these documents together or at least to have a list indicating where they are located?

It may be very practical to list all principal assets​—real and movable property—​and also any liabilities. Precise knowledge of liabilities may protect dependents from exploitation. Not to be overlooked are insurance, orphanage and medical-aid policies, also guardianship documents. Without divulging its contents, such a list might be left with a confidential friend or in a place that would be accessible in a time of emergency. And for the benefit of the executor there should be a list of known relatives and their addresses.

Surely there is great value in having one’s affairs in order. Such orderliness can prevent chaos at a time when persons are least likely to cope with it successfully.

[Picture on page 7]

LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF

Herbs​—a “Rediscovered” Delight

By “Awake!” correspondent in New Zealand.

THE hostess walked from her tiny kitchen over to her windowsill. As the guests watched, she pinched several leaves off a plant growing there. These, she explained, would go into the spaghetti sauce that they would have later that evening. Soon the guests were taking a closer look at her “house plant.” It was an herb​—basil.

While not always growing their own, in many countries people are taking a new interest in herbs. But why the “rediscovery”? Have not herbs been used for centuries?

True, the Chinese and other peoples have never stopped using herbs. However, two recent trends are believed to have increased the demand for their cultivation.

First, gourmet cooking is becoming increasingly popular and herbs are usually among the ingredients of tastier dishes. Secondly, an interest has been rekindled in “folk,” or “home,” cures. Often these cures use herbs as medicine. Some argue that the slower-to-act herbs are more “natural” than the powerful drugs of modern medicine and that thus they are safer.

Actually, while such “medical recipes” go back centuries in time and are often surrounded by superstition, many plants do contain powerful chemicals. Willow bark contains the same acid as aspirin, and foxglove yields digitalis. Still, the health claims made for many herbal teas and poultices are widely debated, meeting skepticism in medical circles.

On the other hand, there is almost universal accord when it comes to using herbs in cooking. They bring a delightful new zest to many recipes. Now, there are two ways of getting herbs​—either growing and storing your own or buying them. Let’s consider the do-it-yourself approach.

Growing Herbs

It would be dangerous to start wandering in the fields and gathering what you thought might be helpful herbs. As one Bible account accurately notes, some plants are dangerous to eat, even after they have been cooked. (2 Ki. 4:38-41) Thus it is better to inquire of a government agricultural center or a plant shop as to what well-known herbs can be grown locally. The soil type and amount of sunshine will determine what you can do. If your climate is moderate, likely you will find that the herbs in the accompanying chart will grow well.

Most herbal plants love sunny places. In many climates they must be started indoors in the autumn and then put outside in the warmer spring.

Any discarded containers of the plastic variety make useful “starter boxes.” Punch a few small holes in the bottom, fill the box with a good, light soil and sprinkle a little garden lime on it. Dampen the soil and then sow the seed thinly on top. Cover the seed with a little dry soil and gently press it down. A clear piece of plastic or glass should be placed over the container and left until the seedlings come through the soil.

Do not be too impatient for results. Parsley, for instance, may take six or eight weeks to show any signs of life. When there are about four leaves on each tiny seedling, put the containers outdoors for two weeks to let the plants get used to the new conditions. Then they can be transferred to the open ground.

If you cannot get seeds, perhaps you can get cuttings from a friend’s plant or buy established plants. These can often save you much time and effort. Furthermore, if you do not have any land for a garden, do not give up. Herbs can be grown in tubs on a balcony, in window boxes or even indoors.

“Harvest” and Storage

The best time to “harvest” most herbs is when the flowers are just beginning to bud. Carefully pick the leaves and stems. Try not to bruise them, as this releases the precious aroma.

While fresh herbs are the best, you may want to store some for out-of-season use. They can be frozen, stored whole in airtight containers or dried.

Drying herbs is the most common way of preserving them. When drying them, do not expose them to sunlight. Rather, hang them upside down (“head” down) in a warming cupboard or on a shelf where no steam or dampness can reach them. Or try this method, as described by one authority: “I put each variety of herbs into a separate brown paper bag (sage leaves in one bag, mint in another, rosemary in a third), gather the bag up loosely, and tie with a string, providing a loop for hanging. With a sharp knife or scissors I slit two or three places in each bag for ventilation and hang them up in a warm room . . . Every day or so I shake the bag to turn [the] herbs over so they’ll dry evenly.”

Once the herbs are “crisp,” you can put them into jars and seal these tightly. If any sign of water appears, take the herbs out of the jar and dry them some more. Also, if you have only clear glass jars, paint them to keep light out. Dried herbs keep best in a dark cupboard.

But now that you have the herbs, how are they best used in cooking?

Creating That “Mysterious Aroma”

For the sake of your prospective dinner guests, we start with a warning. Herb flavor and aroma can be very strong. If you are too “liberal” in using herbs, the results can be disastrous to your meal. Start by seasoning sparingly. “A pinch here and there” is a good rule.

There are many ways to enhance your food with herbs. They can be used as garnishes or can be incorporated into various dishes​—pickles, sauces, soups, coffee, cocktails, punches and wines. You can make herb-flavored teas, oils, sugar, butter, mustard and vinegar.

For example, making herb butter is merely a matter of creaming and softening about a hundred grams (3¹⁄₂ ounces) of butter and then blending in, say, one tablespoon of chopped chives and one of lemon juice. Or use more than one herb in combination. This butter adds tang when spread on fish, chops, steaks or bread rolls.

Of course, a very popular use of herbs is the making of teas with them. Besides giving one a great variety of possible beverages, many of these teas are said to be beneficial to one’s health. Chamomile tea is supposed to induce restful sleep. Herbalists claim that sage tea helps the brain.

Such teas are made the same way as ordinary tea. Pour boiling water over the leaves and let the mixture stand a few minutes before drinking it. Many persons add either lemon juice or honey.

Perhaps not as well known are herb oils. These are made by filling a jar two thirds full of good-quality bland oil, such as safflower or almond (not peanut or olive) oil. A good handful of your favorite herbs is thoroughly “bruised” while adding a tablespoon of white wine vinegar. This mixture is added to the oil.

Seal the jar tightly and shake it well. It should be left to stand on a sunny or warm shelf for about a month. Make it a handy shelf, so that you can pick the jar up and shake it periodically. This oil is delicious in salad dressings or for frying.

Herb sugar and salt are usually made by sealing granulated sugar or table salt in tightly sealed jars with a few sprigs of your chosen herb. The longer you store them, the stronger the flavor will be. The sugar can be used in cake recipes or on pancakes or fruit, and the salt is used in cooking or as a table condiment.

There are many good cookbooks containing recipes in which you can use herbs. When a recipe calls for bouquet garni, the bouquet referred to is usually a bunch of parsley, thyme, bay, tarragon and, sometimes, marjoram. Tied together, they are added during cooking but removed before serving. If the recipe requires fines herbes, finely chop and mix in chervil, chives, parsley and tarragon. Always remember: If you use dried herbs in a fresh-herb recipe, cut the quantity down by one third or a half. Dried herbs are stronger.

Of course, you may wish eventually to experiment with less-known herbs. Since there are some 2,500 species world wide, you can see that there is much to learn. (What is called an “herb” varies from place to place. Generally it is defined as a plant that “dies down” each year, and usually it does not have a woody stem.) After careful study, you may be amazed at the things that end up on your table​—clover, dandelion, rose petals, and so forth. You might also enjoy other uses of herbs, such as soothing herbal baths.

Most persons who have learned more about plants come to view “weeds” by the roadside in a different way. Many have reflected anew on the ancient promise of God to give man “vegetation bearing seed which is on the surface of the whole earth” for his delight. (Gen. 1:29) As poet Ralph Waldo Emerson put it: “A weed is a plant whose virtues we have not yet discovered.”

[Chart on page 11]

HERBS YOU CAN USE IN THE KITCHEN

NAME SOME USES

PARSLEY Garnish, soups, sauces, egg dishes

THYME Meat loaf, stuffings, sauces, pickles, stews

CHERVIL Delicate garnish, soups

CHIVES Soft cheese, salads, butter

TARRAGON Egg and mushroom dishes, sauces, mustards

BAY Mutton, pork, and fish dishes, custards

MARJORAM Meat, fish, egg dishes, soups, cocktails, vinegar

ROSEMARY Seasonings, sugar, oil

LAVENDER Wines, teas, vinegar, sugar

SAGE Stuffings, sauces, oil

BASIL Soups, ragouts, sauces

MINT Vinegar, sugar, sauces, jellies, teas, punches

A Search for an Identity

By “Awake!” correspondent in Nigeria

MAN has always been interested in his genealogy. The Bible itself provides a complete record of Jesus Christ’s ancestry going all the way back to the first man, Adam. (Luke 3:23-38) The Jews, as a nation, meticulously preserved genealogical records, and it was one of their major tragedies that these records were destroyed when Jerusalem was laid waste by the Roman armies in the year 70 of our Common Era.

The Jews’ return to Palestine and the establishing of modern-day Israel was an expression of a need for an identity​—in this case, a national identity. Whereas the Jews’ quest for an established identity may have had strong political overtones, families in other nations often become caught up in such a quest so as to establish claim to the inheritance of property, to royal lineage, to descent from a famous character of history or just to find out who they are.

People all over the world now are focusing attention on what has been described as the “Black man’s search for identity.” The recent Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC) held in Nigeria was a noted expression of this quest.

The African Identity

FESTAC ’77 was held in Lagos, Nigeria, and ran from January 15 to February 12. It was the second gathering of its kind to be convened in Africa. The first was held in Dakar, Senegal, in 1966. FESTAC ’77 drew delegates from all the nations of Africa, black communities in the Americas, Europe and Australia, and black states outside Africa. Some 17,000 artists, dancers and intellectuals came from fifty-six countries. Interestingly, representatives from the Arab states of North Africa and from among the Aborigines and Maoris of Australasia were present​—all subscribing to the “attempts of Black [and African] people to revive their culture in order to integrate themselves in a world of co-operation and conflict diplomacy.”

The rich variety of presentations at the festival included cultural and traditional dances, music and singing, dramas, films and literary presentations by black and African writers. There were exhibitions of art, literature and artifacts, as well as fashion shows and a colloquium, that is, a seminar, on the theme “Black Civilisation and Education.” The principal site of these presentations was the ultramodern National Theatre in Lagos. The colorful boat regatta drew large crowds to the waterways in Lagos to watch competitive canoe races and mock battles. And the Grand Durbar, displaying the spectacular traditional horsemanship of the tribes of northern Nigeria, took the festival to Kaduna, 500 miles (800 kilometers) from Lagos.

In summing up the aims of the festival, Dr. Emiko Atimomo said: “These aims suggest that Africa and the Black World must begin to reconstruct their societies so as to revive the lost heritage of their ancestors, because it is in so doing that co-operation can better be achieved between the Black peoples of the world and other societies of the universe.” The announced objective was to promote better international and interracial understanding, which eventually would facilitate, among black communities in foreign lands, a “return to origin.” The black communities in foreign lands are called the Diaspora.

The desire to “return to origin” was expressed throughout the festival in dramas, dances, songs and the colloquium by a rejection and condemnation of colonialism and an extolling of African culture and political emancipation. A typical example of this was seen in the musical play called “The Drum,” presented by the Somali troupe. This play traced the black man’s experience from his seemingly primitive tranquillity, through the slave trade and colonial subjugation, to his regaining of independence. This “revolt against European civilization” was considered necessary because the conviction has been expressed that “time and colonialism have cut Black Africa from its authentic culture of the past” and that the “traditional culture has been undermined by foreign religion, foreign technology, foreign culture and foreign rule.”

For this reason the scholars who took part in the colloquium appealed for “unity and the solidarity of black people in spite of their ideological differences and the diversity of their geographical and historical conditions.” They held the view that the common factor shared in the destiny of the world’s black peoples is their aspiration toward liberation, toward regaining their cultural identity and their legitimate place in the world. Therefore, recommendations were presented for cooperation in various fields, such as education, government, language and religion, with an African orientation. Black peoples in the Diaspora expressed the view that Africa is the foundation of their ethnic and cultural identity, and so it is around Africa that they intend to rebuild their unity.

Acknowledged Obstacles

While recommendations were made that Swahili be adopted as Africa’s lingua franca, that there be a revival of African traditional religion and culture, and that an ideology of African Socialism be adopted, some saw the need for caution. In his analysis of FESTAC, Dr. Opeyemi Ola said that “certain aspects of the traditional culture do not deserve to be retained or revived . . . because they are either negative or outdated.” He advocated an African technology in order for “Black Africa to move rapidly into the modern present and ultra-modern future.” Therefore, Dr. Ola recommended the establishing of a Pan-African University of Science and Technology.

Dr. Ola further cautioned that “whatever FESTAC may record today in the scoreboard of triumphs, politics may offset and neutralize it tomorrow.” This is perhaps why he later wrote that some of the leaders in “their mini-nations have been more cruel and more unfaithful to the black men under their rule than the white colonial masters!” Such leaders are seen as standing between Black Africa and transformation.

Nevertheless, the nations and communities at FESTAC felt that they had established a basis for confirming African culture as a world culture for achieving progress toward a civilization that would equal that of the already developed nations.

Unsolved Problems

Yet, modern civilization as a whole has not removed the areas of social, cultural and political stress that exist among mankind. Rather, it has enlarged and accentuated them. Indeed, civilization’s technology has been directed largely in a negative way, in the production and distribution of sophisticated weapons of aggression and defense. Moreover, the breakdown of human relations has become critical, with an increase of crime, immorality and drug addiction, and a weakening of the family structure. In fact, some aspects of the increasing crime in developing countries are viewed as a legacy of modern civilization.

Nigerian journalists now are speaking of their country as a “nation threatened from within.” They lament the increasing of violent crimes among citizens to whom “the sanctity of property and of person is a meaningless concept.” In spite of the large sums of money spent in modernizing the cities and building highways, the citizens live in fear of being victims of violent crime. Even the public execution of armed robbers has not been a completely effective deterrent to such violence.

Looking back to the social situation that existed in Nigeria prior to the colonial era and the introduction of modern civilization, writers refer to the time when “daily living was more leisurely . . . Parents, children and indeed the extended family . . . were well aware of their civic and family responsibilities. There were fewer police and fewer prisoners.”

The alarming change toward a moral breakdown has been viewed as largely an economic problem. Growing corruption and dishonesty among those who make a showy display of wealth arouse envy and greed among others, who begin feeling that they, too, must be dishonest to acquire wealth and the many possessions that modern civilization offers. The materialistic outlook further expresses itself in the ‘new morality’ and the resulting promiscuity that threatens the family structure in most countries and has made venereal disease a major epidemic. In Nigeria some have termed gonorrhea a “gentleman’s disease” because to them it appears that promiscuity is more evident among the wealthy or the scholars, who are most influenced by the social ways and materialistic philosophy of modern civilization. Not surprisingly, gonorrhea and syphilis are on the increase in this country.

A “Return to Origin” the Answer?

Of course, the world in general faces formidable social, political, racial, health and other problems. So, what should nations and individuals do? Is it desirable to dispense with modern scientific aids and laborsaving devices and ‘return to their origins’ of several centuries ago, when these things were lacking, life had greater hardships, and health hazards may have been more common?

Would it not be better to ‘return to the origin’ that Jehovah God gave the human race? God gave man a perfect start and the prospect of eternal life in an earthly paradise. Most important of all, the first man, Adam, was a “son of God.” (Luke 3:38; Gen. 1:26-28; 2:7-15) Choosing to sin, however, Adam lost his position as a son of God, and he bequeathed sin and death to his offspring. (Rom. 5:12) Only by availing oneself of the ransom sacrifice of Jesus Christ can a person again entertain the prospect of everlasting life in a restored paradise on this earth. (John 3:16; 17:3; Luke 23:43) What a “return to origin” that will be!

Soon, under the rule of God’s heavenly kingdom, a new civilization will be achieved on this earth. Man then will have full opportunity to use his intellectual capacities in various fields of endeavor. But this will be more than a new civilization. It will be a true “return to origin,” because obedient mankind will become real children of God. “For,” wrote the Christian apostle Paul, “the creation was subjected to futility . . . on the basis of hope that the creation itself also will be set free from enslavement to corruption and have the glorious freedom of the children of God.”​—Rom. 8:20, 21.

[Picture on page 13]

2nd World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture

When the Bible Is Not Followed

Professing Christians bring great reproach on God’s name when they fail to follow his Word. A paramount chief in a country of western Africa was heard to say: “You Christians [of Christendom] do more evil than my pagan people here. The Bible is good. You people read it and know that your God disapproves of bloodshed. But what do we see? You Christians are the major participants in war. I have seen Christians meddle in politics. And yet your Jesus avoided politics. If you are Christians but prove disloyal to your leader’s commandments, are you not deceiving yourselves? Go back and correct your own people. I don’t believe any Christian to be true to Jesus . . . with but one exception​—those children who were dismissed from school for failing to salute the national flag. They are true disciples of Jesus, I am convinced.”

Who were these Christian children that conscientiously refused to idolize the state as the source of all good things? They were Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Stay Clean, Stay Healthy!

By “Awake!” correspondent in the Philippines

MAN’S struggle to stay waged healthy has been almost since the dawn of history. But it has been a ‘losing battle’ against disease, plague and epidemic. Despite advances in science and medicine, people continue to get sick and die.

At one time, it was thought that diseases were caused by evil spirits, and physicians fought this influence with charms or incantations, even with bloodletting. Sometimes herbs were ‘used, doubtless with greater benefit. It was the discovery of germs, however, that resulted in more successful treatments of sick people. And this led to an understanding of the relationship between good health and cleanliness.

Today it is understood that many maladies​—the communicable diseases—​are the result of three factors: the agent, the environment, and the host. The agent is the original cause of the sickness. Disease agents include bacteria (causing such maladies as typhoid fever and cholera), protozoa (resulting in diseases like amoebic dysentery), viruses (causing polio, infectious hepatitis, and so forth), parasites (causing malaria, and so forth), and fungi (responsible for problems like athlete’s foot). There are also nonmicrobic agents like lead and mercury, which can cause poisoning.

The disease agent exists in what are called reservoirs. These may be an already sick person, a carrier (someone who carries the agent, but who has no symptoms of the disease), an animal, or even a part of the inanimate environment. When the agent is expelled from the reservoir​—by coughing, sneezing or in some other way—​it may be picked up and transported to a potential host, that is, someone who is susceptible to catching the disease. If the agent finds the right way into the host, illness will result. The importance of the way that the agent enters is seen in the case of tetanus. If the germ enters through the mouth, it is harmless. However, if it gets in through a deep cut in the skin, the host probably will become sick with the disease.

Today men try to break this chain of disease transmission by sanitation. By this means they endeavor to control the environment so as to prevent the disease agent from getting to a new host. The relative success of this approach has been seen in many countries where garbage has been disposed of properly, sewage has been treated and the government has been able to provide for a clean water supply. In these lands diseases like typhoid fever, cholera and plague have almost been eliminated. Even in the more developed nations, however, people still fall victim to communicable diseases like influenza. Especially is this true during times of crisis, when public services break down and diseases can surface once again. These facts emphasize that sanitation is not just a government responsibility. All of us should be aware of how disease travels and what we individually can do to prevent it.

Spreading by Touch

The world today is in the grip of a pandemic of venereal disease, spread almost entirely by the direct contact of sexual intercourse. These sexually transmitted infections are among the principal diseases spread by contact transmission.

Controlling venereal diseases is largely a matter of moral cleanness, while physical cleanliness will help to prevent the spread of many other maladies. (1 Cor. 6:9, 10) Regarding the latter, one doctor said: “Washing your hands after using the toilet and before eating should be as automatic as breathing.” As a matter of fact, diseases spread by contact transmission should be the easiest for an individual to avoid.

Food and Water

Humans use automobiles or buses as vehicles for travel. Similarly, disease agents can travel in vehicles​—water, milk or even food. This is called vehicle transmission. Milk, so good for growing children, may be a disease carrier if it comes from a dirty or infected animal, which is why, in Western lands, milk must be pasteurized. Many people prefer to boil milk if there is any doubt about it. Food can carry sickness if prepared by unwashed hands or if it has been in contact with rodents or insects. But maybe the most commonly contaminated material is water. We cannot live more than four or five days without it, but if our drinking water is contaminated, it will be a vehicle of entry into our body for countless millions of disease agents. And what disease agents can travel in water? Bacteria, protozoa, worms, viruses and nonmicrobic poisons.

Nowadays, many modern cities are supplied with chemically treated water; but drinking water should never be taken for granted, especially in times of flood, earthquake or similar crisis. In case of doubt, it is wise to treat water perhaps with chloride of lime, or, if that is not available, tincture of iodine. In the absence of these substances, it can be sterilized by boiling for at least ten minutes. Remember, though, that water can be contaminated after boiling as well as before. So the sterilized water should be kept in a clean and protected place until it is used.

In the countryside, particularly in developing lands, households rely on different water sources that must be protected from contamination. Those using rainwater, for example, should be sure that no dirt gets washed into the storage tank along with the rainwater. Also, the tank should be protected from insects, rodents and other animals. Persons relying on surface water, such as streams or brooks, are almost certainly drinking polluted water. It is nearly impossible to protect these from contamination by animals or runoff (rainwater running in from the surface of the ground). The only exception might be a fairly fast-running spring-fed stream where the water looks clean and sparkling and where there are no residents on the watershed spilling pollution into it.

Naturally occurring springs are better, although most householders build a concrete cover around these to protect them from animals and surface runoff. Possibly the best sources, however, are wells, particularly deep wells. Shallow ones need to be examined to make sure that they are not being contaminated by someone’s latrine. Even deep wells can be polluted by surface water runoff. Therefore, many well owners build a small platform around the well, to prevent the surface water from getting in.

Remember, too, that clean water is easily polluted. Even if it comes from a clean well, the water is not fit to drink if it is carried in a dirty container or comes in contact with dirty hands.

Another class of vehicles that germs can ride on are called fomites. These are objects (such as towels or cups) that come in contact with a sick person, and then with someone else. The new handler or user inherits the payload of disease agents left by the previous individual. Fomites should be washed in boiling water to make them harmless.

Insects and Vermin

Between the years 1347 and 1350 C.E., from a quarter to a half of the whole population of Europe died of the Black Death. This disease, also called bubonic plague, is one of the many maladies spread by what is called vector transmission. “Vector” means “carrier,” and in the field of sanitation it denotes an animal or an insect that carries the disease agent to the new host. Mostly, vectors are insects. Some, like the rat fleas that spread bubonic plague and the mosquitoes that carry malaria, actually inject the disease into the new host by biting or piercing the skin. Others, such as flies and cockroaches, walk on contaminated areas, particularly human excrement, and then walk on food, or on areas where food is being prepared. Diseases like cholera and typhoid fever can be spread in this way.

To protect themselves from malaria-carrying mosquitoes, many people in the tropics sleep under a mosquito net. Governments have tried to limit the breeding of such mosquitoes by eliminating their breeding places. Householders can cooperate with these efforts by removing potential ‘breeding grounds’ in or near their homes​—things such as bottles with water in the bottom, stagnant puddles or even drains not properly covered.

Certain insects are a bigger problem. In some places, such creatures as cockroaches and flies are not regarded as enemies, just as nuisances. But they truly are health hazards, and their movement in a home should be prevented as much as possible. Dirty kitchens, however, with cracks or holes where insects can hide, are like a playground for them. Garbage not properly covered is an open invitation to flies, cockroaches and vermin. Also, hogs raised near the house encourage flies to congregate. By all means, insects and rodents should be kept away from family members and from food. You can never tell where they have been!

Clean habits, then, will help to break this link in the chain of infection. Another way to reduce the potential for harm from vectors is by seeing to the proper disposal of human waste or excrement. To persons living in cities having proper sewage disposal facilities, this may not seem like a problem. But in many parts of the world, diseases like cholera, typhoid and dysentery are spread because of improper waste disposal. In this regard, when the Israelites were wandering in the wilderness, they were commanded to go to a private place outside the camp, dig a hole with a peg, and bury their excrement there. (Deut. 23:12-14) It may be noted that when one digs into the soil, the first few feet are teeming with tiny organisms that will quickly work on the waste and render it harmless. If the waste is left on the surface, however, insects can crawl over it and carry diseases back to the household. Also, if it is left untreated and is used as fertilizer, such disease agents as amoebas and worms are likely to be transferred onto the food crop being fertilized.

So, burying is the best way of handling this problem if there are no sewage facilities. Of course, if there is a family living in one place and not moving around like the Israelites, something a little more sophisticated will be needed than just a peg or stick to dig a hole! It is surprising, however, how simple it is to make a sanitary toilet. A pit dug about six feet (2 meters) deep, and three feet (1 meter) square, raised around the top to keep surface water from draining in, with a floor cover and a seat that can be covered to prevent insects and rodents from entering, will satisfactorily serve a family for some years. Of course, more sophisticated units can be used if money is available. But there is one thing to watch. These facilities should be built well away (and, if possible, downhill) from any water source.

Carried in the Air

After the trauma of the first global war, in 1918 the world faced another grim experience. In one year, ten million more persons died during the Spanish flu than the number killed during the entire war. Most of those who suffered from the sickness probably caught it from the very air they breathed. Influenza is one of those diseases communicated by means of what is called aerial transmission. When an infected person sneezes or coughs, he sprays the air with little droplets of water that are teeming with germs just waiting to get into a new host. Fortunately, sunlight and dryness tend to kill most germs. While they are still alive, however, they can be breathed in from the air. Aside from influenza, some diseases that can be spread in this way are tuberculosis, measles, pneumonia, scarlet fever and whooping cough. Yet, the spread of these illnesses can be lessened greatly by clean personal habits, such as using a tissue or handkerchief when sneezing (and disposing of the tissue in a sanitary way) and not spitting indiscriminately.

Yes, indeed, sanitary, or clean, habits have a part to play in the matter of staying healthy. In many cases, of course, the good habits we have may prevent our disease from being spread to someone else, whereas others may not be so considerate. However, the principle of ‘loving your neighbor as yourself’ surely will guide a Christian in this regard. (Matt. 22:39) True, some people become fanatical in the matter of cleanliness and sanitation; so the spirit of a sound mind is needed too. We can be sanitary, but we cannot live in an antiseptic environment. Besides, Jehovah God has provided wonderful power right within our own bodies to overcome the attacks of most diseases. Yet, it is wise and loving to be reasonably clean and sanitary, and thus not spread germs unnecessarily.

Attention to sanitation and cleanliness will help us, though this will not remove sickness from the earth. For that, Christians patiently await God’s new order wherein Jehovah will remove sickness and other distresses afflicting mankind. At that time, there will be a full realization of the Bible’s promise that “no resident will say: ‘I am sick.’” (Isa. 33:24) Then, finally, man’s struggle to stay healthy will have been won.

A Long Way?

Eye cosmetics are not new. Queen Jezebel of ancient Israel “proceeded to paint her eyes with black paint” when about to encounter Jehu. (2 Ki. 9:30) At least some women of Israel used eye paint, as did those of other Middle Eastern lands. (Jer. 4:30; Ezek. 23:40) While Bible references do not mention eye painting in connection with faithful women of Israel in general, one of Job’s daughters was named Keren-happuch, meaning “horn of antimony” or “horn of eye paint.”​—Job 42:14.

Referring to the use of preservatives in eye cosmetics, Susan Seliger writes in The National Observer: “Even the ancient Egyptians recognized the value of preservatives. They are said to have used for eye make-up two blue-green copper materials that have an antibiotic effect.” She then quips: “Who says we’ve come a long way, baby?”

What Happens When the Power Fails

JULY 13, 1977, was a very hot and humid day in New York city. About 9:30 p.m. the concluding song was being sung at a Kingdom Hall, in the southeastern part of the borough of Brooklyn. Suddenly the lights went off, the air-conditioning system stopped functioning and the emergency lights flashed on.

“It’s a power failure,” said the elder presiding at the time. “This is a hot night with many air conditioners and fans going. There’s nothing to worry about. The emergency lights will enable you to see enough to pick up your belongings and leave the hall.”

Living in a comparatively quiet residential section of Brooklyn, those in attendance were not particularly disturbed by what had happened. After the meeting was dismissed with prayer, they engaged in brief, friendly conversations. Then a few decided to investigate outside. They were surprised to see that the surrounding blocks also had been plunged into darkness. But most of those in attendance thought that the power failure was local.

Arrangements were made for all at the hall to have transportation back to their homes. One car group, consisting of two married couples and a young man, had to drive seven miles (11 kilometers) across Brooklyn. Taking with them another member of the congregation, a woman living nearby, they were soon on their way. Not too many vehicles were on the streets, and the absence of traffic lights did not pose a great problem. After dropping the woman off at her home, they continued traveling on a busy thoroughfare on their way to the nearest expressway. At intersections traffic became snarled, and there seemed to be little hope of making any further progress. However, seeing the problem, some young men risked getting out of their cars and began directing traffic with flashlights. Because of their commendable efforts, many were able to reach the expressway without difficulty.

It was certainly a relief for the group of five to be homeward bound. Not having lived in New York city at the time of the last major blackout in 1965, the women began talking about how exciting it was to witness a power failure. But the young man added a sobering note: “It’s very dangerous. Think about the people that may be trapped in subways and elevators. I’m wondering about others who had meetings tonight. I sure hope everything is going all right for them.” As they drove onward, it became apparent that the whole city had been plunged into total darkness. Only here and there could one see lights in building complexes that had their own power supply.

Looters and the Police

But what was happening in the dark? Judging by what had taken place back on November 9, 1965, when New York city experienced such an extensive blackout, a person might have concluded that there would be little reason to worry about possible civil disorders. In fact, on that day in 1965 there were fewer arrests than for the same period at other times.

Wednesday, July 13, 1977, was different. It was a hot night and many people were in the streets. Especially was this so in the deteriorating parts of the city. What would they and others do under the cover of darkness​—seize the opportunity to aid others or to help themselves to things that did not belong to them?

The answer came almost at once. One policeman was on his regular beat in southeastern Brooklyn when the police radio sounded the warning that a power failure was expected. Then came the blackout. In less than a minute, over the police radio he heard that looting had started.

That night the policemen often were overwhelmed by sheer numbers and could do little more than disperse crowds and recover a part of the loot. They were also in danger of being hit by bottles, rocks, bricks and sniper bullets. Happily, no policemen were killed, although hundreds of police were injured.

The looting did not stop with the approach of day. And while policemen were guarding stores that had been broken into, looters were selling items that they had stolen during the night.

An eyewitness to looting in Manhattan tells what he saw from an eleventh-story window: “The streets were swarming with people​—men, women and children. It looked like a rally or a ball game. Stores were being broken into everywhere. One man with a car had a group of youngsters helping him load it with stolen goods. Others were piling up items on the sidewalks. Whenever a police car approached, the people would scatter. The most the police could do was to seize looted items that had been piled up on the sidewalk.”

From other areas the accounts were much the same. With the aid of chains, crowbars, brute strength and the power of cars, trucks or vans, looters pulled apart protective gates. Often windows were smashed with metal waste disposal containers taken from the sidewalks. Then the stores were invaded. Strangely, some looters viewed themselves as quite respectable. One woman from the Bronx commented: “You know, we weren’t animals up here. People took their turns climbing in through the broken glass, and nobody pushed or tried to get ahead.” However, at times looters fought over stolen items. Numerous stores, after being emptied of their contents, were set on fire.

An estimated 2,000 stores were looted. Total losses were initially thought to exceed one billion dollars. From one automobile showroom in the Bronx fifty cars valued at about $250,000 were stolen. Less than a day after the end of the blackout, thirty of these cars were found. All were damaged beyond repair. Often what the looters could not carry away they ruined. As a result of their rampage, parts of deteriorating neighborhoods began to look like areas devastated by war.

The police arrested fewer than 3,000 persons for looting. A sampling of 300 offenders revealed that 70 percent of them had been arrested before. But thousands of looters got away and shamelessly boasted about what they had taken. Among them were those who had good-paying jobs. Returning to work on Friday, one man proudly showed a fellow worker a long list of items that he had looted. In fact, he had stolen so much that he was talking about giving things to those who needed them. Summing up the attitude of many looters were the words of a youngster to a storekeeper who was viewing her demolished establishment: “It’s our Christmas.”

A Busy Time for Firemen

Arson, coupled with emergencies caused by the blackout, resulted in an exhausting work load for firemen. Typical of what happened is this brief account given by one of them:

“I went to work at midnight. A man afflicted with emphysema needed to have his aspirator powered by our generator. That task completed, we responded to a call in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn. Streets were so jammed with people that it looked like Times Square on New Year’s Eve. I thought we had been called to disperse the mob. But not so. A store was burning. I needed three tanks of air to go in and out of the building.

“By the time this fire was brought under control, two nearby six-story apartment houses were in flames. After helping to put out this fire, our truck was on its way to the station house. We had not even driven a quarter of the distance back when we were called to assist in fighting a rekindled fire. Five fire engines were already on the scene, and ours made the sixth. By now it was 6 a.m.

“Two hours later we responded to a call to help the same emphysema sufferer. We had our generator supply power for his aspirator. Thereafter the man was taken to a hospital.

“Once again we were on our way to Brownsville. The fire engines were organized into teams. All lined up in the street, ready to go to the scene of a fire. None of the engines making up these teams responded to false alarms.

“We went to put out a fire in a looted store on Broadway in Brooklyn. It was necessary to cut a hole in the floor to get into the cellar. After spending an hour and a half fighting this fire, we got back in line, waiting to drive to another one. At the scene of the next fire, the street was full of cartons from a burning warehouse, and people were wetting them down.

“Around 1 p.m. we found ourselves in front of another looted warehouse. This five-alarm fire was so intense that fifteen minutes later the walls collapsed and the structure burned to the ground. Because of the tremendous heat from the flames, four vacant buildings across the street caught on fire, as did other neighboring houses. Our twenty-one-hour tour of fire fighting was completed at this location.”

A Flurry of Activity at Hospitals

Hospitals near areas of extensive looting were kept busy attending to people with knife and bullet wounds as well as injuries from broken glass. One hospital in Brooklyn, where the emergency generator failed, set up surgical and emergency services outside. Two generators from the Fire Department supplied the current for high-intensity spotlights, which provided illumination for treating the wounds of what seemed like an endless stream of injured persons, mainly in their teens and twenties. In another hospital that lost its emergency power supply, doctors and nurses squeezed bags of air manually until electrically powered resuscitators operated again. Basically, the city’s hospital system continued to function well with auxiliary power-supply units.

What About Subways and Elevators?

By comparison with the looting and arson, problems resulting from subways that got stuck were relatively minor. Although between 175 and 200 trains were in operation at the time of the blackout, only seven were stranded for hours between stations. The credit for minimizing the problem of stuck trains goes to an experienced man at the command center. He noted electrical difficulties before the blackout and ordered all trains to go to the nearest station.

Among those passengers who were stranded was a woman who went into labor. She was first to be carried out of the train. Then the police helped the other passengers to get out. Reportedly there were no injuries; nor was there any panic in connection with efforts to empty this and other subway trains.

Some passengers waiting for subway trains did not even realize that there had been a power failure. Regarding his experience, one young man relates: “The moment the blackout occurred auxiliary lights simultaneously lit the station, making the dramatic happening barely noticeable to me. After waiting thirty minutes for a train, I finally realized that something was wrong and headed for the exit. The closer I got to the street, the more shouts and screams became audible. I saw policemen, flares, and people sharing the light of their candles. ‘Lightning blew out a power plant,’ a burly man, with a crew cut and wearing a T-shirt, yelled to one of many inquisitive passersby.”

The number of people who got stuck in elevators was surprisingly low. Often the rescue was effected in far less than an hour. Of course, some were trapped on high floors. Around 500 people were eating in the restaurant on the 107th floor of the World Trade Center when the blackout occurred. They completed dining by candlelight and were able to reach ground level on an emergency-powered service elevator. However, the thirty-five people on the observation deck of the Empire State Building did not fare quite so well. After receiving breakfast​—with compliments of the building’s management—​half of them took the stairs from the 86th floor and finally reached the ground. Those remaining waited until elevator service was restored Thursday afternoon.

Other Opportunists Come to Life

Looters were not the only opportunists. As restaurants were plunged into darkness, numerous diners rushed out without paying their bills. Many people caught in stores during the blackout became shoplifters, grabbing what they could within their reach. There also were persons who asked outrageous prices for common items. In one section of the borough of Queens, the fabulous price of $3 each was being asked for cold cans of beer and soda.

Bright Spots in the Darkness

However, by no means did all yield to the pressure to profit selfishly from the emergency. Told that she could profiteer by selling candles at a higher price, a storekeeper in the Brooklyn Heights area refused to hear of it. They were fifty cents before the power failure, and she continued selling them at that price.

Learning that five young men were going to the same area of Brooklyn from the Bronx, one woman volunteered to pay cab fare for everyone. This enabled all of them to get home safely.

Some persons even admitted that the emergency had brought out their better side. Three black and four Hispanic males worked together to open the door of an elevator that had stopped between floors. One of them was overheard saying: “All are friends now, but after we get these people out of the elevator we’ll start cursing and fighting again.”

When a 150-foot-high (45-meter-high) Ferris wheel at an amusement park stopped on account of the blackout, sixteen passersby pitched in to help. They pulled the giant wheel with their hands and thus made it possible for the riders to come down.

Men and women went to the police station houses, declaring their willingness to help to direct traffic, share in safety patrols and assist lost pedestrians. Other New Yorkers provided escort services.

In certain cases the power failure, which in some sections of the city lasted for twenty-five hours, brought individuals closer together. People would go out into the street and there talk with neighbors to whom they had not spoken in years. A couple whose divorce was to be finalized in three months came to New York for a “divorce party” and got stranded on the 38th floor of a hotel during the blackout. They ended up talking at length with each other. The result? They decided to save their marriage.

What Would You Have Done?

Truly, times of crisis can expose publicly just what is in people’s hearts. Said Time magazine of July 25, 1977: “Behaviorists generally believe that, given a similar combination of total darkness, blistering heat and simmering anger on the part of an underclass, much the same kind of riotous looting could erupt in almost any other city in the U.S.” Based on recent history, the same could certainly be said of many cities in other lands. This makes it appropriate to ask of others, What would you have done? Would you have looked out for the interests of other persons, responding to their needs? Or, would you have thought just about your own welfare and that of a few close acquaintances, perhaps rushing home without checking on what you might do to help out in the emergency? Worse still, would you have helped yourself to the possessions of others, without thinking about the hurt you were causing store owners and your neighbors who would be deprived of nearby shopping areas and would thus be forced to take public transportation to get daily necessities?

Actually, a crisis is not needed to reveal what you or your neighbors would have done in a similar situation. What the individual does from day to day indicates whether he is upright and honest or not. “The person faithful in what is least,” says the Bible, “is faithful also in much, and the person unrighteous in what is least is unrighteous also in much.” (Luke 16:10) Are you striving to be faithful in what is least so that your presence during an emergency will be a blessing and not a curse to others?

Life in Black and White

● When we look across the room at our pet dog or cat, it is only natural to think that they see the room as we do. But studies on the vision of mammals argue otherwise. Most mammals do not see colors at all. What they do often see very clearly is the difference in the intensity of the blacks, whites and grays. Because they can differentiate so well between these shades we assume they recognize the difference in color!

Consider the Marvel of a Tree

FOR just a moment, think about a tree. Its boughs provide shade. Its fruits nourish life. Forests shelter wild creatures, prevent floods and shield the food-producing land.

Really, since the creation of humankind men have marveled at the strength and peacefulness of trees. The Bible refers to Lebanon’s cedars, trees that grew to a height of 120 feet (37 meters) and had trunks forty feet (12 meters) around. (1 Ki. 5:6) Yet there are far larger trees.

The Banyan tree of India consists of hundreds of rooted vines, and may cover an acre (.4 hectare) of ground. A Montezuma cypress in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico, is 116 feet (35 meters) around and forty feet (12 meters) in diameter. Its age once was estimated at “10,000 years.” But it is now thought to be a number of trunks grown together, having a respectable though more reasonable age of perhaps 500 years.

Among tall trees, Australia’s eucalyptus stands high. A century ago one was reported to measure 433 feet (132 meters) to the point where its top had been broken off. Though there is doubt today about the accuracy of this measurement, there is no question that Australia’s eucalypti are among the tallest trees in the world.

The tallest presently living trees are thought to be the coast redwoods (Sequoia sermpervirens) that grow to exceptional heights in the fog-shrouded valleys of the northern California coast. Shadowy fluted columns of these graceful trees rise perfectly straight for as much as 200 feet (60 meters) before the first lateral branches reach out to form a high green vault over the forest’s peaceful floor. The tallest known redwood, discovered as recently as 1963, rises to a height of 366 feet (112 meters).

In striking contrast are nearby pygmy forests, where a grown man can bend down to touch the tops of trees that were growing before he was born. While visiting the towering redwood groves, you can stop at the pygmy forest in Russian Gulch State Park, about 120 miles (193 kilometers) north of San Francisco. There the soil has stunted tree growth to such an extent that fifteen-year-old pine and cypress trees are only six to ten inches (15 to 5 centimeters) high. Trees thought to be a century old are less than the height of a man. The world’s largest (though not tallest) trees are found about 120 miles (193 kilometers) inland, located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California.

What marvelous provisions for variety were incorporated in the first trees! The Biblical psalmist said that such things as “fruit trees and all you cedars” should praise God. (Ps. 148:7, 9) We ourselves were created with the tendency to appreciate their strength. So reflecting on these marvels of creation should make us even more thankful for the wisdom of their great Creator.

What Is the Bible’s View?

Does It Matter What You Wear?

IN THE Holy Scriptures a person’s approved standing before Jehovah God is represented under the figure of clothing. A “great crowd” of tribulation survivors are depicted as “dressed in white robes,” indicative of their dignified, clean appearance before the Most High by reason of their faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ. (Rev. 7:9, 13, 14) In connection with the coming of “the war of the great day of God the Almighty,” this encouragement is given: “Happy is the one that stays awake and keeps his outer garments, that he may not walk naked and people look upon his shamefulness.”​—Rev. 16:14, 15.

Spiritual wakefulness, then, is required if God’s great day is to find us arrayed with a genuine Christian personality, unspotted by the world’s actions, attitudes and ways. Furthermore, being so dressed, the Christian would be active in the service of Jehovah God and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Luke 12:35-40; 21:36; 2 Pet. 3:14) How tragic it would be for the Christian to be found in the state of Levite temple watchmen who fell asleep at their posts! According to Jewish tradition, they were exposed to shame by being beaten and having their garments burned.

Since the Scriptures refer to clothing as representing the very important matter of an approved standing before Jehovah God, does it not logically follow that his servants should also give attention to what they wear in the way of literal clothing? We should not lose sight of the fact that Jehovah God provided clothing made from animal skins for sinful Adam and Eve. The Hebrew word used to describe that clothing is understood to mean “long garments.” Hence, these garments provided ample covering for the naked bodies of the first humans.​—Gen. 3:21.

Centuries later the Most High took specific interest in the clothing of his servants. The regulations given to the Israelites required that they “make for themselves fringed edges upon the skirts of their garments” and that “they must put a blue string above the fringed edge of the skirt.” (Num. 15:38) Also, “no garb of an able-bodied man should be put upon a woman, neither should an able-bodied man wear the mantle of a woman; for anybody doing these things is something detestable to Jehovah.”​—Deut. 22:5.

The distinctive fringed edge and blue string on the skirts of garments set the Israelites apart from other peoples and served as a continual reminder that they should obey Jehovah’s commands. (Num. 15:40) As to the prohibition about a person’s wearing clothing specifically designed for the opposite sex, this preserved the natural distinction between the sexes. The customary thing is for men to want to look like men, and for women to want to look like women. A violation of this internal sense as respects attire could have led to homosexuality. So God’s law served as a safeguard against deception and possible immorality.

The Israelites could not ignore this matter of dress and treat it lightly. Centuries after the Law was given, Jehovah’s prophet Zephaniah declared that calamity would befall all those “wearing foreign attire,” possibly dress of the Egyptians and Babylonians that did not conform to the requirements of God’s law. (Zeph. 1:8) As long as that law remained in effect, the Israelites had to obey its regulations. Jesus Christ, for example, pointed out that a deliberate rebellion against any of the commands would prevent one from inheriting God’s kingdom. He said: “Whoever . . . breaks one of these least commandments and teaches mankind to that effect, he will be called ‘least’ in relation to the kingdom of the heavens.” (Matt. 5:19) Had an Israelite, for instance, insisted on wearing garments without a fringed edge because the style did not suit his taste, he would have revealed a spirit of defiant independence. Such haughtiness would definitely have stood in the way of his becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ.

Christians, of course, are not under the Mosaic law with its precise rules about dress. Rather than specific regulations, a sense of what is fitting, as well as love for others, should move them to dress in a way that appeals to the good conscience of fellow humans. (Compare 1 Corinthians 10:23, 24; 2 Corinthians 4:1, 2.) Yes, their balanced thinking and love will prevent genuine Christians from allowing personal choice to take precedence despite the unpleasant or undesirable effects their attire may have on others. At no time should their clothing call into question their claim to be servants of Jehovah God.

Especially should consideration be given to what is worn when attending Christian meetings or when publicly witnessing to others about God’s Word. The apostle Paul gave this counsel: “I desire the women to adorn themselves in well-arranged dress, with modesty and soundness of mind . . . in the way that befits women professing to reverence God, namely, through good works.” (1 Tim. 2:9, 10) The same guiding principle could also be applied to Christian men. Clothing should not be unduly showy, calling too much attention to the individual. Nor should it be sloppy. Others should be able to see that the Christian is modest and dresses in a manner that befits the occasion. There should be evidence of soundness of mind, that is, reasonable, good thinking as to the choice of clothing. When it comes to matters of worship, the Christian’s dress should harmonize with the dignity of sacred service.

Of course, if interested persons begin coming to Christian meetings, they should not be made to feel uncomfortable because of their appearance, but should be received in a spirit of love. To judge whether they are deserving to hear the truth or not on the basis of what they wear would be wrong. The disciple James told fellow Christians: “If a man with gold rings on his fingers and in splendid clothing enters into a gathering of you, but a poor man in filthy clothing also enters, yet you look with favor upon the one wearing the splendid clothing and say: ‘You take this seat here in a fine place,’ and you say to the poor one: ‘You keep standing,’ or: ‘Take that seat there under my footstool,’ you have class distinctions among yourselves and you have become judges rendering wicked decisions, is that not so?”​—Jas. 2:2-4.

However, it would not be expected that the poor man would continue to come to meetings in “filthy clothing” after becoming a baptized Christian. If he could not afford to get modest, well-arranged attire, his brothers would come to his aid. (Compare James 2:14-16.) Therefore, his humble circumstances would not have prevented his wearing clothes that reflected favorably upon his God.

So, then, dress is something that does matter to Christians. They should strive never to give anyone valid reason for questioning their modesty and sound thinking.

Watching the World

Music Reflects times

◆ Music is becoming more degraded. A recent example is “punk rock,” which originated in England. The words and music are more immoral and violent than “acid rock,” and the singers themselves act in a debased manner. The New York Times reports that the assumed names of the musicians often reflect this, one being “Johnny Rotten.” “Other punk rockers take names like Sid Vicious and Rat Scabies,” it said. The Times also noted: “Punk followers sometimes wear bizarre clothing, such as ripped T-shirts and slacks made of plastic garbage-can liners. A few wear safety pins in their cheeks, noses and ears.” Fashion designers “are cashing in on the punk look” by selling “calculatedly ratty shirts and slacks.” A musician in a group called “The Stranglers” said: “This is a time of trouble and strife in Britain. That’s why angry music is being produced here. People feel numbed and purposeless. That’s what’s behind urban music like ours.”

Harder to Own Homes

◆ Accomplishing the American dream of owning one’s home is becoming more difficult. Prices have risen so rapidly that even many “middle-class” people cannot afford their own homes, especially if there is only one wage earner in the family. According to the National Housing Conference, by the 1980’s the average home will cost $78,000 and only people with incomes of more than $20,000 a year will be able to afford them. Five million homeowners now have mortgage payments in excess of 25 percent of their incomes, as do more than ten million who rent living space.

Dangerous Sport

◆ Hang gliding, or sky sailing, has attracted thousands of enthusiasts in recent years. Soaring through space hanging underneath a glider may be thrilling, but it is one of the most dangerous sports ever invented by man. University of Colorado surgeon Dr. Bruce Paton says that it is “at least twice as dangerous as parachuting and incomparably more dangerous than skiing and rock climbing.” In Colorado alone there have been 15 deaths and dozens of serious injuries in just a few years. The greater the pilot’s skills, the greater his chances of serious injury or death. Why? Because advanced pilots take greater risks, jumping off higher cliffs and mountains. Dr. Paton states that almost all the Colorado hang gliders who died were considered “super-expert pilots.” California is said to have even more deaths from the sport, averaging about one a month.

Inconsistent Health Practice

◆ Western observers are impressed by the strides that China has made in providing basic health care for its 850 million people. However, China reports an 85-percent increase in smoking in ten years. It is second only to the United States in tobacco production. Results? Lung cancer is on the increase. England’s New Scientist comments: “For a nation so much praised for successful health campaigns, the lack of even a general information poster telling the Chinese people the dangers of smoking is puzzling.”

No Compulsory Salute

◆ A new ruling approved by the California Board of Education allows students the privilege of refusing the flag salute without censure. Students may remain silent during the pledge of allegiance, but may not disrupt it.

Going Barefoot Harmful?

◆ Is going barefoot harmful to your feet? Not according to Dr. Paul Brand, Louisiana State University orthopedist. For 30 years Dr. Brand has studied feet in different countries. He states that “barefooters” practically never have athlete’s foot, ingrown toenails, corns, bunions, hammer toes, or metatarsal pain. In India the only patients with fractured ankles that he ever had were those who wore shoes. He says that if you are barefoot, you sense being off balance more quickly and correct it faster. However, he warns that diabetics should not go barefooted because their feet are relatively insensitive; even slight cuts or injuries can lead to infection and amputation.

Fewer House Calls

◆ A recent medical report shows that, in the United States, doctors make about 17 million house calls annually. But 20 years ago 63 million were made by fewer doctors serving a smaller population. The number of house calls now is only 2 percent of all physician services.

Compensating Nonsmokers

◆ Many nonsmokers object to others smoking in enclosed public places. A number of recent court cases have been decided in favor of nonsmokers, even awarding some of them financial compensation. A photographic darkroom worker in New York received unemployment compensation after leaving his job because a fellow employee’s smoking. When a government economist in Baltimore argued that the tobacco smoke at his work made him so ill that he had to stop working, a federal board awarded him compensation. A stewardess in California was compensated after she developed an allergic reaction to the air in the smokers’ sections of airplanes and had to stop working. An employee of a telephone company in New Jersey claimed that she was made seriously ill by fellow workers who smoked, and that the company had a duty to provide a workplace free of such harmful smoke. A state court agreed, ordering the company to restrict smoking by employees to one room only.

Nondrinking Section

◆ Many spectators at sporting events have expressed disgust at the drinking habits of other attenders. One stated: “Fans can get pretty obnoxious if they’ve been drinking all day.” Officials at an automobile raceway in Atlanta have decided that for their next special event there will be a section in the stands reserved for nondrinkers.

“Junk” Foods Costly

◆ “Junk” foods such as candy bars, sodas, pretzels, donuts, potato chips, cookies, ice-cream bars and others may cost less than meat, fish, vegetables, eggs and fruit. But children who eat them pay a high price. A Philadelphia pediatrician found that undernourished children were eating twice as much of such foods as the better-nourished children. The “junk” food eaters were too short for their age, too thin, weaker, and also anemic.

Farming in Comfort

◆ Many farm tractors are now equipped with an enclosed cab that has air conditioning, heating, AM-FM stereo and citizens’ band radios. Of the 155,450 tractors sold in the United States last year, most had several of these features, some even having television sets. Farm labor is increasingly expensive to hire, and more acreage is needed to make a living. So farmers must do more of the work themselves on ever-larger and more efficient machines, often spending 12 to 15 hours a day on the tractor.

Obesity “Epidemic”

◆ The Edmonton Journal declares: “The obesity problem in Canada has reached epidemic proportions. Nutrition Canada found at least half the adult population has a weight problem and one in six adults to be grossly overweight.” The Journal suggests: “The safe way to slim down is to eat less and exercise more. Don’t expect fat to melt away overnight. So, be patient and persistent and accept small losses of one or 1¹⁄₂ pounds per week. Whatever you do, beware of any diets, slimming aids or devices that promise to take fat off you fast and painlessly.”

Hard Work Helps Hearts

◆ A study of several thousand longshoremen in San Francisco confirms the fact that hard physical work over a long period of time reduces the risk of fatal heart attacks. Those who did lighter work-equivalent to office work​—had five times as many fatal heart attacks as did those who performed hard physical work such as lifting, shoving, or pushing heavy materials.

Altitude and Heart Attacks

◆ Researchers in New Mexico have discovered that men living at higher altitudes have fewer heart attacks. Scientists are not certain why, but suggest that one reason may be that living at high altitudes keeps blood pressure down, and high blood pressure can lead to heart attacks. Another theory is that men may not completely adjust to the thinner mountain air, so that daily activities “represent greater exercise than when undertaken at lower altitudes.” Also difficult to explain is the fact that the higher altitudes made no difference in the rate of women’s heart attacks.

Learning About Eggs

◆ When birds sit on their eggs to hatch them, they achieve a hatching rate of nearly 95 percent. But when the same type of eggs are put into artificial incubators, the hatching rate is drastically reduced. Scientists in England are hoping to find out why by having birds sit on electronic “eggs.” These are glass-fiber replicas packed with electronic devices. The information is passed on to a laboratory receiver that records the data on charts and magnetic tapes. It has been found that there can be a temperature difference of several degrees from the top of the eggs to the bottom of the nest. Too, birds often leave a nest for an hour or so, causing temperature and air changes. And it also has been noted that the birds turn their eggs throughout the night. By making use of such information it is hoped that incubator-hatched eggs may achieve a higher success rate.

Largest Filmmaker

◆ A large filmmaker such as Twentieth-Century Fox may spend about $90 million a year on movie and television production. But that is far less than the largest moviemaker. Who is that? The Wall Street Journal answers: “The [United States] government is by far the nation’s largest producer; it estimates that it spends more than $500 million a year to make movies, TV shows, filmstrips and the like.”

Spectacular Crane Comeback

◆ The large, stately whooping crane was once near extinction in the United States. In 1941 the whooper population was only 41 birds. But the current number is more than triple that. This year alone, 28 of the cranes were hatched, which is considered a “spectacular year” for the birds.

Employee Theft Soars

◆ Known cases of employee theft have nearly doubled in the past five years in the United States. The cost of such theft to businesses is now about $24 billion annually, Industry Week recently reported.

Crowded Land

◆ Japan has a population of over 110,000,000. But 64,000,000 of the people (nearly 60 percent) live on just a little over 2 percent of the land area. They are concentrated in three metropolitan regions, centered on Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya. The highest density of population is in Hidaka, Saitama Prefecture, northwest of Tokyo, where there are 59,230 persons per square kilometer (less than one-half square mile).

Huge Arson Toll

◆ Arson is the deliberate burning of a building. The National Fire Protection association says that arson cases make up about 30 percent of all fires in the United States. In a ten-year period, the number of arsons rose from 64,800 to 258,000; property damage rose from $142 million to $1.2 billion. A large number of the fires are set to collect fire insurance, with organized crime being heavily involved.

Alcohol and Vision

◆ According to University of California eye doctors, for some time after drinking heavily of alcoholic beverages auto drivers have trouble identifying things and keeping them fixed in view. Reportedly, vision becomes normal again only after six hours have passed since a person’s last drink.

Should Women Preach in the Congregation?

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