December 8

Page Two

5 WHY THE UPSURGE IN OCCULTISM?

6 THE FASCINATION OF THE OCCULT

8 BREAKING FREE FROM OCCULT POWER

Large numbers of people are involved in the occult. Many are youths. Some are prominent in business. What attracts them? Why is it that some desperately want to break free? You can learn much from the experiences of those who have succeeded in gaining such freedom, as told by our correspondent in the British Isles

12 SO YOU WANT TO GET A JOB!

Practical suggestions for young people and their parents, also for adults who are job hunting

Have You Ever Wondered—

Do We Really Need Religion?

“Religion? Who needs it?” A lot of people seem to be saying this nowadays. In France, only 15 percent of the population regularly attend church. In the Federal Republic of Germany, over a six-year period, nearly one and a half million people asked to be taken off the official church lists. Similar trends are reported in other lands.

Many church members attend christenings, marriages and funerals, but very little else. The limited influence of religion was shown by a recent Gallup poll in America. This revealed that three out of four of the population do not consciously connect religion with their judgments of right and wrong.

Do you feel that religion is just out-of-date in this scientific, free-living 20th century? Many do. Others say it is positively harmful, pointing to the active involvement of some religions in revolutionary movements, and the way religious differences contribute to instability in places like Northern Ireland and the Middle East.

Yes, “Do we really need religion?” is a valid question. However, before answering it, some background information will be helpful.

WHY HAS RELIGION LASTED SO LONG?

In all honesty, it must be admitted that throughout history many religions have greatly added to the burdens of the people. Yet, for the most part, these people have tenaciously clung to their systems of worship. The “World Book Encyclopedia” states: “There has never been a people that did not have some form of religion.” Why? Because man has an instinctive need to worship.

What about the modern trend away from religion? Well, although religion has come under an unprecedented propaganda barrage, belief in God survives. Even in Russia, where for many years atheism has been State policy, belief in God is far from dead.

True, many have turned their backs on religion. But have these people really overcome their instinctive need for religion? Often, no. Is it not true that even unbelievers, in moments of great crisis, will try to pray to God? Historians have also noticed that people who reject traditional religions often turn to substitutes. For example, many show the same faith in science or nationalism that earlier generations showed in God. Even the treatment given to certain “pop idols” and sports heroes looks suspiciously like religious adoration.

Hence, history shows that we have a built-in need to worship. But is this the whole story?

WHAT IS THE REAL REASON WHY WE NEED RELIGION?

The real reason we need religion is this: God exists, he made us with the need to worship and he truly wants us to worship him.​—Ps. 100:2, 3.

Some find the very idea of God’s existence old-fashioned. Yet many of today’s most educated people believe in him. Dr. Wernher von Braun, described as “the greatest rocket expert in the world,” said: “It is as difficult for me to understand a scientist who does not acknowledge the presence of a superior rationality behind the existence of the universe, as it is to comprehend a theologian who would deny the advances of science.”

God exists. Our very instinct for worship proves this. Evidence can also be seen in our well-designed earth. And he has revealed himself to us by means of the Bible. If you have difficulty accepting these facts, we encourage you to examine the evidence carefully. The publishers of this magazine will be happy to help you to do so.

WHAT ABOUT THE HARM RELIGION HAS DONE?

It cannot be denied that some religions have caused great harm. In Jesus’ day, the scribes and Pharisees were very religious. They were also oppressive and hypocritical and did much damage in the name of religion. But Jesus Christ was different. He taught the truth.

Similarly, the apostle Peter showed that in later years, so-called Christian sects would appear and oppress people. “On account of these the way of the truth will be spoken of abusively.” (2 Pet. 2:1, 2) Nevertheless, “the way of the truth” would still exist. As in Jesus’ day, anyone today who is willing to examine the facts in the light of the Bible can find where the true religion is.

WHAT CAN THIS MEAN FOR YOU?

Those who share in pure worship of God enjoy real benefits. In the midst of life’s perplexities, they will benefit from the Book that God has provided to guide mankind. “All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness.” (2 Tim. 3:16) If sincerely applied, Bible principles can bring genuine satisfaction. These can help to produce a happier homelife and even aid you in getting along better with others. In this darkening world, the Bible is ‘a lamp to their foot, and a light to their roadway.’ (Ps. 119:105) Also, they can take their problems to God in prayer, with confidence that he will hear and will help them.​—1 John 5:14.

Furthermore, new horizons open up for the future. They learn that the present chaotic world “is passing away . . . but he that does the will of God remains forever.” (1 John 2:17) Soon, God has promised, there will be something completely new: “There are new heavens and a new earth that we are awaiting according to his promise, and in these righteousness is to dwell.”​—2 Pet. 3:13.

Too idealistic? Not if we accept the facts. Really, we owe it to ourselves to examine the evidence to see how we can share in such blessings. Yes, we do need true religion.

Why the Upsurge in Occultism?

SCIENTIFIC thinking in this 20th century has disabused the minds of people of many superstitions, and for this they are grateful. There still are, however, many facts that seem to defy any adequate scientific explanation. This is true of the occult, involving practices “hidden” from the understanding of people in general.

Consider Uri Geller, the Israeli mystic. When he appeared on German television, some very strange things took place. As a result, Geller invited all who wished to participate in his experiments to select a broken watch or clock, spoon or fork. Then, on a predetermined date, at a precise time, they were to close their eyes and concentrate on him.

The following day, the newspaper Bild Zeitung headlined sensational happenings. Old clocks had started to tick again, spoons and forks had become twisted and bent, light bulbs had exploded.

What forces were at work? Is it possible for us to identify them? Seeking answers to these intriguing questions, persons who study mysticism, witchcraft and other paranormal activities are rapidly increasing in numbers.

Filling a Need

It is not surprising to find young people in the forefront of mystic exploration. Young minds are naturally imaginative. There is, however, a deeper reason for their involvement, identified by one of the principal witches in the British Isles, Lois Bourne. In her book Witch Amongst Us she states: “Due to the decline in organised religion, and the fact that science cannot always explain observed phenomena there has been a recent resurgence of interest in the occult and associated world, with people seeking different answers to the same questions. Young people are turning towards paganism in an effort to satisfy their longing for answers to the mystery of life, and it is possible that some of them are being drawn into the vacuum of the seedy fringes of the occult world with all its inherent dangers.”

Yes, science and the churches too have failed to offer satisfying explanations for supernatural phenomena. And they have left many feeling empty in their quest for the meaning of life. Yet questions demand answers. For an increasing number of young people today one apparent way of getting the answers is to explore the occult. As they do so, the “inherent dangers” are either deliberately played down or ignored.

Death and the Supernatural

Following the death of a loved one is a particular time of stress. Lacking accurate knowledge, grief-stricken relatives often explore every avenue to make personal contact once again. Séances with mediums are the most common means employed.

Many prominent statesmen have been caught up in this sphere of occultism. Mackenzie King, wartime prime minister of Canada, is well known for his occult pursuits. He claimed to receive guidance, not only from his deceased mother, but also from prominent dead people, including President F. D. Roosevelt of the United States. British premier Arthur Balfour (famous for the “Balfour Declaration” on Palestine in 1917) also conducted such spiritistic experiments for the greater part of his life, following the tragic death of his fiancée.

For an increasing number of people today, interest in the occult is viewed as a harmless pastime, a fascinating one. But it can lead to serious problems that are often unsuspected by those who are lured by the occult.

The Fascination of the Occult

“ONLY a foolish or an ignorant man would today refuse to accept that there are some forces or influences about which we know little, and over which we have no control,” warns Peter Underwood in the preface to his book Into the Occult.

Many people are interested in those forces. As a former member of a witches’ coven in Canada put it: “Every time I make a trip to Victoria I see at least a dozen of the witches. Many of them are prominent business people . . . During the daytime they can’t be picked out from anyone else.”

In the British Isles there are now 6,000 known witches, and one person in 20 is actively connected with occultism. In Germany over 50,000 practice sorcery. Although witchcraft is illegal in South Africa, estimates are that between 40,000 and 90,000 members of the white population are involved in the “black arts.”

Why is the occult so popular?

What Fascinates Them

“Do you want a bank account bursting at the seams with money? A love life that would make a sultan envious? Supreme power to crush your enemies and reward your friends? . . . Witchcraft can bring your heart’s desire!”

This advertisement for a book on magic shows why many people are first drawn to the occult. They have been promised money, sex and power. Others may desperately wish to contact dead loved ones, or to know the future. Still others are merely curious.

Many claim to get results. A British photographer and his wife joined a satanist group after a “sex-filled initiation” and suddenly their business began making lots of money. As soon as they quit the group, their business went flat.

Others do not fare so well. In the African country of Liberia, the son of a prominent politician and several others sought to use witchcraft to gain political power. The young man wanted to be an ambassador. The group murdered a local fisherman and used parts of his body to make charms and potions, but their magic did not help them. After a spectacular trial, seven persons were hanged.

Results of a Parlor Game

Persons merely curious about the occult are often lured into active involvement by means of allegedly harmless items such as Ouija boards. The familiar boards are advertised and sold as a harmless parlor game. There is no question that the boards make a lot of money for the manufacturer​—but are they harmless? A lot of people don’t think so.

A popular Canadian singer tried to commit suicide several times after being invited by her board to “come to our side.” A lonely Alberta woman was advised that she would meet ‘the man of her dreams’ at a Calgary night spot. She was beaten and raped instead. Just last year in Miami, Florida, mass hysteria broke out when young students playing with a Ouija board claimed they were possessed by demons. “The whole school went berserk,” said a police officer. Students kicked holes in walls and tore a door off its hinges. According to a teacher, “There were girls crying and screaming that there was a spirit inside (the Ouija board).”

Clearly, persons lured into using a Ouija board as a ‘harmless parlor game’ are often not prepared for what may happen to them. Their fascination with the occult produces results all right, but are they results that you would want?

How Reliable the Predictions?

The uncertainties of life make most people wish they could know the future. The occult promises such knowledge.

Sometimes it seems to work. A North Carolina witch predicted that a neighbor would die on a certain date. The woman did die on that date​—a victim of alcohol and pill overdoses.

Noted astrologer Jeanne Dixon claims to have predicted President John Kennedy’s death in Dallas, Texas, in 1963​—but she doesn’t say too much about her prediction that the Vietnam War would end in 1966. A group of scientists examining her overall record concluded that her predictions were no more accurate than those of any ordinary person making informed guesses.

Is the future being seen​—or, are occultists merely in league with invisible forces who sometimes cause predictions to come true, and sometimes don’t?

Missed Loved Ones?

Many persons first turn to the occult in an effort to contact dead loved ones. The North Carolina witch made her prediction at a séance in which the family attempted to contact their dead son-in-law. The result was tragedy.

In other cases the “dead relative” seems to speak through the medium, giving convincing evidence of his identity. Yet often the personality of the spirit contacted is vengeful or capricious. One researcher into Ouija boards characterized the personalities contacted as “characteristically sadistic and psychopathic.” Why would relatives who were loving in life become cruel in death? Could the spirits claiming to be departed loved ones be impostors?

A Canadian couple got caught up in an occult group, only to flee in terror at the changed personalities and evil in the members. “Anyone who thinks they’re going to play around with witchcraft​—they’re playing with dynamite,” they said.

Even if they had doubts before, those who get involved in the occult become convinced that superhuman forces are involved. But, having done so, many feel that they have been snared in an evil web.

Breaking Free From Occult Power

LARGE numbers of persons who have dabbled in the occult now find themselves under the control of superhuman forces. They are not sure what these are, but they desperately want to break free. Is it possible?

As they struggle to free themselves, they may encounter severe problems. Some hear threatening voices from the spirit realm. Others are opposed by practitioners of the occult arts.

Centuries ago, on the island of Cyprus, there was a Jew named Bar-Jesus who practiced the occult. He was a sorcerer, known also as Elymas, which is a Greek form of a title given originally to Persian priests of Babylonian sorcery. It appears that Bar-Jesus held the position of court magician and adviser to the Roman proconsul at Paphos. The Bible, at Acts 13:6-12, relates that when the apostle Paul came into the area and taught the proconsul the principles of Christianity, Elymas fiercely opposed, seeking to protect his influential position as “priest” of the divination cult. But the proconsul was freed from that evil influence by embracing “the teaching of Jehovah,” the true God, as conveyed by Paul.

Many thousands of persons in this 20th century have also been freed from the occult by taking to heart the “teaching of Jehovah” as found in the Bible and taught by Jehovah’s Witnesses. One of the things that they learn is the identity of the superhuman forces behind the occult arts. These are not benevolent but wicked spirits, demons. Jesus Christ, who himself came from the invisible realm, knew about their existence and spoke about them. (Luke 4:33-35; 10:18-20; 13:16) To break free from their control, a person must have help from a source with greater power than theirs, from God himself. This is possible only by learning the truth from the Bible and applying it in one’s life, with full reliance on Jehovah God.

Consider some real-life examples of this in recent years. Take note how individuals got involved in the occult, and the kind of practices that draw on occult power. Also, observe what it did to their lives, and how they managed to break free.

A High Priest of Witchcraft Seeks Freedom

Gordon, who lives in England, was a witch (they did not refer to him as a “warlock”). Here is his own story:

“My connection with occultism started when I joined the Psychic Research Society. During subsequent years I observed and participated in hundreds of séances, witnessing most forms of psychic phenomena including direct voice, levitation, ectoplasm and apports [the manifestation of material objects through occult power]. At the same time I discovered my own power to become a diviner, to be clairvoyant and to engage in psychometry [divination of facts relating to a person or thing from contact with an object].

“Seeking to develop my occult abilities even further, I took up transcendental meditation as a member of a Buddhist society. I soon found that Eastern philosophies are a natural steppingstone to fundamental occultism. A new colleague, a skilled cabalist, taught me many fascinating things. A whole field of intriguing mysteries opened up before me. I read and studied deeply.

“As my grasp of ritual and transcendental magic increased, so did my circle of friends all over the country. I became adept at tarot reading and at interpreting the cabala.a I was initiated into the progressive grades of witchcraft until I eventually became high priest of a witches’ coven. I taught these arts to many others, including my wife, who became my high priestess.

“But things were not right with me or with my magical arts. My coven was subjected to bickerings and jealousy. There was rivalry with other covens, one group even working magic against another. Worse still, sordid affairs of a sexual nature (an all-too-common factor in witchcraft) eventually affected me, to the sad detriment of my own marriage.b I started experimenting with ‘soft’ drugs, becoming increasingly unhappy and disillusioned.

“It was at this time that a passing acquaintance, knowing of my connections with witchcraft, gave me a copy of the book ‘Babylon the Great Has Fallen!’ God’s Kingdom Rules! The title immediately captured my interest. I knew full well that ancient Babylon had been the repository of all ‘secret religion’ and that the Bible’s book of Revelation, mentioning ‘Babylon the Great,’ contained many mysteries too. Although I read the book eagerly and carefully, I was still confused, but this turned out to be my first positive step in gaining freedom from the subtle powers of occultism.

“As time passed, things went from bad to worse. In desperation, one night I remembered what the friend who had given me the ‘Babylon’ book had said: ‘If you need help, get in touch with Jehovah’s Witnesses.’ I picked up the telephone directory and rang the nearest address. Although it was late at night, the stranger I spoke to listened carefully. Within the hour he was standing at my door.

“My new friend, an elder in the local congregation, was genuinely concerned at what I had to say. I took him into my magician’s den. Even now I can recall how astounded he was at what he saw! Occult paintings filled the room. My two swords of initiation, beads of incantation and incense burners were displayed with my Arthame dagger​—used by witches to draw circles and pentacles when calling spirit forces into human contact. A full-size black model head of Isis (the ‘Mistress of Magic’) was alongside a bright-orange figure of Amon-Ra (the Egyptian ‘King of the Gods’) and model sailing craft, supposed to signify the transporting of souls across the sea of the dead. We stayed talking in that room until the early hours of the morning. I certainly needed much help.

“Our discussion centred around the Bible, a book for which I had always had a natural respect, but of which I knew little. We used a small book, The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life, as a guide to systematic Bible study. During the ensuing weeks I learned the simple truth about evil and the demons, and of their power to control and direct men’s minds.

“One thing that greatly disturbed me, I remember, was my first reading of Deuteronomy 18:10-12: ‘There should not be found in you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, anyone who employs divination, a practicer of magic or anyone who looks for omens or a sorcerer, or one who binds others with a spell or anyone who consults a spirit medium or a professional foreteller of events or anyone who inquires of the dead. For everybody doing these things is something detestable to Jehovah.’

“I had no idea that such a statement was in the Bible and it shocked me a great deal. In fact, my conscience began to trouble me as I realized my considerable guilt over the things with which I had been involved. On the other hand, the clarity of the truth came sharper in focus as a result, and for this I was grateful.

“Later I was amazed to read that the early Christians had also experienced serious encounters with demonism and magical arts. I had always known fire to be a symbol of destruction and when I read of the course of action voluntarily taken by the people of Ephesus who became Christians in burning their books of magical art,c I saw the need to do the same myself. So it was that after prayer one night I went up onto the moors and burned all my books and paintings. Likewise I broke and threw away the many metal appendages of my arts, despite their value.

“Slowly, but surely, I became free from demon influence. It was not easy. Witches and other former friends did all they could to dissuade me, but I treasured my newly found freedom too much to compromise. The forces of evil are strong, but I soon came to realize that the forces for good are stronger. I have every reason to be thankful for the happiness and security I now have serving Jehovah, the God of truth and of light.​—2 Cor. 4:3-6.”

UFO Spotting at Stonehenge

In recent years, reports of sightings of Unidentified Flying Objects (UFO’s) have multiplied considerably. Quite evidently many of these experiences can be accounted for by such mundane things as cloud reflections, meteorological balloons, aircraft or, simply, imagination. On the other hand, the Church of England’s bishop of Norwich, speaking in the House of Lords in London’s Parliament, expressed genuine concern, saying about UFO’s: “I have known many cases where people have been very disturbed even to the extent of a form of spirit possession which in many cases is undoubtedly evil.”

Stonehenge, on Salisbury Plain, is probably the oldest of the 900 or so stone and earth circles to be seen in the British Isles.d It is a popular site to which people gather in the hope of seeing UFO’s.

One young man, Robert, regularly engaged in such “spotting” there and saw many inexplicable phenomena. Pursuing the matter, he became an avid reader of books on the subject, getting deeper and deeper into occultism as a result. Continuing his story, he says: “My personality changed. I started to believe I was a prophet, someone special with a work to do. I developed extraordinary powers and was able to go for days on end without food, drink or sleep. I could even open a pair of curtains simply by looking at them. On one occasion I was taken to the local police station and examined there by the police psychiatrist who thought I was on drugs, but he was unable to help me. Eventually I ended up in a mental home. Upon my discharge I became very depressed and made plans to commit suicide, inner voices goading me on to do so.

“Deep down I still loved life and longed to be released from the evil power that was hedging me in. It was then that I remembered that when I was younger I had sat in on a Bible discussion my mother had had with Jehovah’s Witnesses. So I determined to contact the Witnesses I had met at that time. As soon as I did this I commenced a study of the Bible, using the chapter ‘Are There Wicked Spirits?’ printed in the book The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life. The factual presentation of the Scriptures in these discussions convinced me of the truth and enabled me to gain the freedom I so much desired.”

“The Exorcist”

Since the release of the movie “The Exorcist” some years ago, many reports are on file of the adverse effects it had on many who saw it. Maureen was an atheist. She had heard so much about the film that she decided to go to see it with a friend. The results were dramatic.

“It was the most terrifying thing I have ever seen. It was horrible. I could feel something was happening to me. I was shaking all over and could only just manage to pick myself up from my seat to walk out. But this was only the beginning of my troubles.

“Returning home, I was ready to burst into tears. My husband offered me little comfort as he had told me not to go to see the film in the first place. How right he was! I could not sleep that night, dreaming about the film.

“During the coming weeks things went from bad to worse. I was frightened to go to bed and when I did I would wake up in a cold sweat. I knew there was something in my house, as I could feel it with me wherever I went. I felt I was going out of my mind.

“It occurred to me that if there were such evil forces there must surely be good ones too. So I started looking around for a cross that I could wear for protection. I also bought a St. Christopher medal for the same purpose. Each night I would hold them in my hand and pray, hoping that if there was a God he would help me. But things did not improve. In fact, they seemed to get worse.

“One day I was confiding in my friend about my problems when she said she had a book that would perhaps help me. She herself had been given it by one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. It was entitled ‘The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life.’ I immediately started to read it, turning first to the chapter on wicked spirits and then to ‘Who Is God?’

“It was during my reading that I came across Jesus’ statement to Satan: ‘Go away, Satan! For it is written, “It is Jehovah your God you must worship.”’ It then said that the Devil left Jesus.e I kept reading this and thought I would do the same. At first I repeated the words in my heart but later summoned courage to say them aloud. Only then was I able to get to sleep.

“When I saw my friend again she asked me if the book had helped me and said that if I wanted more information I should contact Jehovah’s Witnesses.

“I knew a family of Witnesses living nearby and jumped at the opportunity offered to me to study the Bible with them. Slowly, things began to improve as Bible knowledge replaced my former ignorance. But it was only when I finally disposed of all my pagan religious objects and charms that I experienced complete freedom.”

Are you seeking to break free from some form of occult power? If so, get in touch with Jehovah’s Witnesses. They are not exorcists, but they know what the Bible says you must do in order for Jehovah God himself to help you.​—Jas. 4:7, 8.

[Footnotes]

[Pictures on page 9]

Isis

Amon-Ra

[Picture on page 11]

Stonehenge

So You Want to Get a Job!

By “Awake!” correspondent in Brazil

ARE you acquainted with ads like the above? If so, you are probably one of millions who at some time or another picked up a newspaper to look for a job. Are you looking for a job now? Or, as a parent, are you thinking about a career for one of your children?

Take another look at the ads. Did you notice that no company is simply offering a job? They are asking for someone who knows the work. Now check the job listing on page 15. Are you qualified for any of the services listed? What can you do to prepare yourself or your child for one of these jobs?

Natural Abilities or Inclinations

Almost all of us are born with some natural ability or particular inclinations. Have you already detected in yourself certain preferences that might be developed to good advantage? Or it may be that your schoolteacher has a suggestion to make in this regard after having observed you in class.

For example, an elderly pharmacist in Brazil tells us that even in childhood he enjoyed treating and bandaging the small wounds of his friends. This served as a start for him. And who does not know some little boy who was always playing with his father’s tools and is now a good mechanic?

In your own case, are you one who has not yet decided on what profession to follow? What are your natural abilities? If they are useful, could you develop them so as to produce dividends?

To profit from our natural abilities or inclinations, we must develop them. Or else they will be wasted. But just what can be done?

What Can Parents Do?

Loving parents are ready to make sacrifices to give their children the opportunity to learn a useful trade. Generally, this requires first of all that the children develop the ability to read and write well, since this will be needed later on when they take a training course or look for a job. And if one of your children wants to drop out of school, as a wise father or mother you will consider carefully what may be lost and how this can affect your child in the years to come.

Of course, children cannot always depend on their parents. So, as the saying goes, “Give them fish but also show how to catch them.” Mothers can teach their daughters (and why not the boys too?) home duties that will be helpful sooner or later. Fathers can give instruction as to heavier chores. Give them regular and specific tasks in a loving and practical way, and they will be grateful in the future.

Consider this example of how parents can take the initiative to start their offspring in a career. A man noticed that his youngest boy enjoyed handling clocks and trying to repair them. When the opportunity came along, he paid a professional watchmaker to let the boy “work” with him a few hours each day. In a short time the boy learned the trade. Now he has his own shop as a means to provide for his family.

Do not underestimate your child’s capacity to learn. Aren’t you surprised at times how fast he picks up undesirable habits or words? In the same way he can learn useful things. He doesn’t have to be a genius to learn basic trades. He just needs to be taught.

Some Possibilities for You

Just what can you do to develop or take advantage of your own natural inclinations or abilities? Consider some ideas that others have tried with good success.

Do you always carry a camera over your shoulder, ready to take snapshots? Well, why not become a skillful photographer? As a basic tip, do not take a photo with everybody “at attention.” Also, beware of using your camera as a “guillotine” to cut off the heads or legs of your subjects. Be a good observer and develop originality. Really, there are no limits for creativity in this field. Before taking a photo, decide on a good setting for your subject. Try to make every photo a little work of art. Later on, learn to develop films, and you will be ready to offer your services.

Are you a young person still in school? Are you interested in electronics? If so, why not take a course? Eventually your neighbors and friends will ask you to repair a radio or a TV. You will feel the joy of being useful and later you will receive compensation for your services.

Can you type​—not just the two-finger style but with ten fingers and correct position? With a good manual many have learned to type at home by training daily and correcting wrong habits.

Courses are available for almost anything you want to do​—many by correspondence. Some governments support schools to train individuals and even help them to find a job. Look around. Don’t leave the matter to chance. See what’s needed in your locality and choose something practical. Line up your studies and work hard so as to receive a certificate at the end of the course. More and more such a certificate is required when you go knocking on doors in search of employment.

Maybe you are a mother and have lost your husband. What could you do to make a living? Women usually like to look their best, do they not? Well, you could have plenty of customers if you do good work as a hairdresser, beautician or manicurist. Learning another language can also be very useful in finding suitable employment. In countries where English is not spoken, perhaps you could learn that language. Multinational firms have an open door for bilingual secretaries, translators, interpreters, receptionists or language teachers. If you feel this would be suitable for you, then begin working on it! Audiovisual language systems are featured in some schools. And records or tapes are available, so that you can learn another language in a relatively short time.

Ours has been called the Computer Age, and “computer expert” is a recent addition to the list of professions. If this takes your fancy, why not try a course in computer programming?

Use Good Sense and Do Not Give Up

When looking for a job, don’t be concerned about becoming “somebody” or getting rich quick. This world has created a false sense of values. Certain indispensable jobs are considered humiliating by some. Of course, some trades or professions require more skill than others, but all useful jobs are honorable.

For example, who is “a somebody” when you are in a deserted place with a broken-down car? Is it not the mechanic in dirty clothes, with a toolbox, ready to help you? And is it not the cook who is “important” when you are hungry? And who is the “responsible man” when you are traveling by bus? Is it not the driver? Yes, any productive work, like a cog in a gearbox, is important. And it contributes to our mutual happiness.

What about striving to get rich quick? Good counsel is that we be content with “sustenance and covering.” (1 Tim. 6:7, 8) The happiness that comes from being content with basic necessities and doing good work is more valuable than an avid race for riches.

It is never too late to learn, so don’t let the precious years pass like the sand in an impassive hourglass. Use them to learn some profitable work. As you strive to improve your abilities, you will face discouraging moments, but do not let this overly worry you. Deal with the matter as it really is​—an obligation not always pleasant but generally rewarding. It is like planting a fruit tree and expecting to gather fruit in the years to come. The effort you make now may be small when compared with the benefits ahead. So do not give up.

No, job hunting is not easy. It is work in itself. But there are shortcuts, and it may be that some of the suggestions given on page 13 will help you. With these suggestions in mind, we hope that the next time you check your newspaper for a job you will be able to say, “These I can try.”

[Box on page 13]

Suggestions for Obtaining a Job

1. Write down a summary of your experience. Ask yourself, “What can I do best?”

2. Let your friends know that you are looking for a job. Also, look for job advertisements​—in more than one newspaper, if possible.

3. Concentrate on looking for a job where your experience could best be used. But do not limit yourself to this. Be ready to try a new job, even for lower pay.

4. First, exhaust all possibilities to obtain a job near your home. Avoid what would interfere too much with other activities, such as needed rest, family life and spiritual interests.

5. Do not expect a high initial salary. If you do diligent work, it will be raised as time goes on.

6. If possible, ask for interviews or aptitude tests in several places. Do not stay at home simply waiting for a call. Especially if you need work urgently, make looking for it a full-time job.

7. When you are being tested, be natural. Be realistic when talking about your abilities. Show that you really want to work.

8. If you live in a large city, put your name down in several employment agencies. Some institutions provide information about trades and professions and the work market.

9. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t immediately find what you are looking for. Due to the constant movement in the work market, in time jobs become available in almost every income level.

[Box on page 15]

(For fully formatted text, see publication)

Partial Job Listing

Accountant

Automobile

Electrician

Mechanic

Painter

Tire Repairman

Body Worker

Baker

Barber

Beautician

Bookbinder

Butcher

Cabinetmaker

Carpenter

Chimney Sweep

Computer Programmer

Confectioner

Constructor

Cook

Draftsman

Dressmaker

Driver

Electrician

Farmer

Gardener

Glassworker

Hairdresser

Hostess

House Painter

Iron Worker

Janitorial Worker

Language Teacher

Locksmith

Leather Worker

Maker of Artificial Flowers

Mason

Milk Deliveryman

Music Teacher

Needle Worker

Newspaper Deliveryman

Nurse

Oculist

Office Clerk

Photographer

Piano Tuner

Plumber

Printer

Proofreader

Radio Announcer

Secretary

Shoemaker

Tailor

Tile Setter

Tourist Guide

Train Conductor

Translator

TV or Radio Repairman

Typewriter Repairman

Upholsterer

Waiter

Watchmaker

Welder

[Picture on page 12]

ELECTRICIAN

Must have at least two years’ experience in general electrical maintenance

OFFICE CLERK

Young woman with good handwriting and experience in general office work. High school required

DRAFTSMAN

Must have experience in architectural drawing

A Long Journey in Search of a Stranger

WHO am I? Why are we here? Where are we going? My head was spinning with questions about life as I knelt for the last time in the Catholic church that I had attended loyally in Canada since I was six years old.

As I left the church, solemn in my resolve never to return, it was to begin a long journey in search of a stranger. Someone or something, I felt, could surely fill the emptiness inside of me.

However, at the age of 16 I did not know where to look. And as months and years crawled by, they felt like centuries. Life beckoned to me, but in what form? One way was with the apathetic, alcohol-partying crowd where a girl of my years faced the very real prospect of an unwanted pregnancy. Or I might choose the new, seemingly mind-expanding drug crowd. Since they were disillusioned by the “establishment,” I felt more drawn to them.

At my mother’s insistence, I entered a university. At first it was exciting. Professors and students were eager to tear down the system. But what better system did they offer to replace it? None. Indeed, I began to wonder if the “hippie” crowd was degenerating into a worse system than the one they despised.

Emptiness kept crowding in on me. It was matched only by the urge to search on for answers. One professor, sensing this unhappiness, suggested that I might find fulfillment in studying languages abroad.

Searching into Other Religions

Europe was filled with young people having nothing better to believe in than we had. So the popular fad of the time was to explore Oriental religions. Hopefully, I began to examine Hinduism and Buddhism.

As I visited one country after another, I was awed by the beauty of it all. I thought: If there is a God, he would not have to change much to turn the earth into a paradise. What, especially, would he have to change? Us. Human nature.

Reflections of that kind were fed upon by others of a saddening kind: How short life is! How much there is to see and to know and to enjoy! Why must it be that life is so short? So unrewarding?

The turquoise waters of the Mediterranean glistened in the sunlight as the ship cruised through the Strait of Gibraltar bound for Morocco. Shortly, we were in Tangiers. Veiled women and turbaned men rushed to and fro. I was here to seek direct contact with one more religion​—Islam. A young Parisian artist had persuaded me that I would find answers here.

Moslems did seem sincere. Five times a day they prostrated themselves on the ground to Allah. I was introduced to the Koran, the holy book of the Moslems. However, among other things, I discovered that polygamy was permitted in their religion. Also, violence, bloodshed and wars were common to the Moslem world. I could not see this as being any better than the record of Christendom. It was plain that my search was not going to end here.

I was sick at heart. There seemed no way for me but to return home to Canada. I came back saddened, but little wiser. Whatever I was searching for was no nearer than before.

Unexpected Help

Defeated, I resolved to settle down, get a job and try to fit in. Having learned French in my travels, I became a bilingual receptionist for the government. I tried to mix in with the interests and affairs of those around me. But why was it torture to sit through coffee breaks listening to gossip?

One woman in the office did seem very different. Lorraine was quiet and unassuming. Her sense of apartness seemed to draw me to her, although I doubted that she was the kind of person to whom I could talk. That’s why I could hardly conceal my astonishment when I discovered that Lorraine was a very knowledgeable person.

She had something logical and reasonable to answer to any questions. Gingerly, I brought up one subject after another​—mankind, religion, customs, evolution. Finally, I drew a deep breath, thinking this will end it, and asked: “Do you believe in magic?”

No Canadian I had ever known had answered Yes. But Lorraine replied: “I know that magic does exist. The Bible explains that it’s a real power.”

Her response was doubly shocking, not only because of what she believed but because of her authority for believing it. “The Bible?” I said, not believing my ears. “A woman as intelligent as you can believe in the Bible?”

Even priests and ministers, I reminded her, will tell you that the Bible is mostly myth and legend. But Lorraine disarmed me with her tact and kindness. “Would you let me give you something to show you why I rely on the Bible?” From her purse she drew a small, lime-colored book entitled “Is the Bible Really the Word of God?”

I asked, curiously, “What religion are you?” She smiled and answered, “I’m one of Jehovah’s Witnesses.”

I literally shrieked the words​—Jehovah’s Witnesses! But Lorraine asked mildly, “Do you know something about Jehovah’s Witnesses?”

When I acknowledged that I did not, she asked: “Then why did you react that way?”

Dumbfounded, I could not explain. But that night I looked into the book Lorraine gave me. It offered archaeological evidence that there really was a Flood. It assembled proof that mankind appeared on the earth suddenly, in the same form as today, and from one human pair. My skepticism warmed into delight to examine proof that the Bible has been preserved in its purity to our day. A sense of wonder was kindled in me as the book revealed that Bible prophecies are in the course of fulfillment in our time.

Once you find what you have sought for all your life, it comes upon you as incredible. I demanded authentication for every statement. Patiently, Lorraine spent long hours in the library with me researching questions and issues. Every day I confronted her with new questions. Another study aid, Did Man Get Here by Evolution or by Creation?, explained where we came from and where we are going. Another, The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life, answered “Who is God?” “What is God’s purpose for man and the earth?” “Where are the dead?” “How can you identify the true religion?” and other questions.

My World Was Falling Apart

However, no sooner had I resolved to stick to what I was learning than my entire world started to fall apart. My father had just died. A woman crashed into my car and I hobbled on crutches for weeks. My grandmother died. Most of the major appliances in the home broke down. My mother became ill.

But it did not occur to me to stop studying. And Lorraine steadied me by saying, “When you set out to learn about Jehovah you become a personal target of his enemy, Satan the Devil.” I was strengthened by 1 Peter 4:12, which says regarding suffering experienced by followers of Christ: “Beloved ones, do not be puzzled at the burning among you, which is happening to you for a trial.”

Lorraine invited me to the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Though they did not know me, and their life-style was different from mine, their warm love and hospitality engulfed me.

It was apparent to me that I really needed to examine this faith. I wondered: Is this really the way of truth that leads mankind back to harmony with the rest of God’s universe?

I told Lorraine: “I need a part-time job to give me more time for my research.”

One Journey Yet Ahead

All my efforts to find part-time work locally failed. Finally, I confided in Lorraine: “Maybe I could go to some other country and find part-time work there and have time to study.”

“Where,” she asked, “would you like to go?”

“To China.”

She had learned to remain composed no matter what I said, and responded: “Would you settle for Central America?”

Lorraine told me that Diane and Shirley, Jehovah’s Witnesses I had already met, were planning a trip to Guatemala. She took me to talk to them. They did not think my request was preposterous. Soon, we were driving to Guatemala.

My appearance changed with the miles. In Acapulco, Shirley showed me a piece of cloth. “Joy, don’t you think this is a pretty piece of material? Wouldn’t you like it to be made into a dress?” This meant a modest, knee-length dress.

Diane was a professional hairstylist and would show me pictures of different hairstyles. My hair covered most of my face and reached halfway to my hips. Finally, I let her cut it. To my disbelief, when I looked in the mirror and saw the person with the whole face and shoulder-length hair, I liked her!

A Home in Guatemala

In Guatemala, I met Jean. Diane had known her since 1968. Jean first came to Guatemala in 1966 from the Watchtower missionary school in Brooklyn, New York. Although she had become ill, she had remained in Guatemala and now had a little house of her own.

Dear Jean offered me a home with her. And she helped me to find the stranger for whom I was looking. I continued my study of the Bible with her. She would strengthen me by telling me many experiences.

Yes, I was beginning to discern the Stranger, that is, stranger to me. It was the Person who gave meaning and purpose to my life, the generous Giver of every good and perfect gift, my Creator and Life-Giver, the only true God, Jehovah. How awe-inspiring it was to discover that, despite all the seeking and groping, “he is not far off from each one of us”!​—Acts 17:27.

Although I knew very little Spanish, I was already taking care of four Bible students. Jean and I prepared for this ahead of time. She would ask me the Bible questions in English. I would try to answer in Spanish to see if I could relate the information. And we would make sure to stay at least one lesson ahead of my students.

Amid all of this, Jean helped me to get a part-time job as an English instructor. With so many responsibilities, I learned without delay to rely on Jehovah for strength to learn a new language, to learn the truth, to learn to teach the Bible, to learn to teach English, to learn to live in a foreign country, to learn to live a new way of life, and to learn how to put on a new personality.​—Phil. 4:13.

In five months I made my dedication to God to do his will, and was baptized in symbol of that. My doubts were resolved. The long journey in search of God​—the person who had been a stranger to me—​had ended. I now had new goals in life.​—Isa. 2:3.

Rewards That Will Not End

Six wonderful years have flown by. The pace of life continues. I still live with Jean in her little house, and we both teach the Bible full time.

We have been blessed to share the good news of God’s incoming new order with many families and have seen them dedicate their lives to Jehovah. To help new ones to find Jehovah and help them to get on the road to eternal life in his new order is a reward beyond words to describe. As an example, one family of 14 we helped now conducts 59 Bible studies with others, and two of the 14 are spending their full time teaching the Bible to others.

Our secular work, teaching English to Guatemalan executives of American companies, often gives us opportunity to witness to those who have never been reached before. We even have had them request to read in class some of the Watch Tower publications explaining the Bible.​—Matt. 28:19, 20.

When I was born, I was given the name Joy. Now, from the time of my dedication, my life is joy. All because Jehovah is my friend, and not a stranger to me anymore. He is, indeed, the ‘rewarder of those who earnestly seek him.’ (Heb. 11:6)​—Contributed.

“‘You will actually seek me and find me, for you will search for me with all your heart. And I will let myself be found by you,’ is the utterance of Jehovah.”​—Jer. 29:13, 14.

Crossword Puzzle

Clues Across

1. Served as a “mouth” to Moses (Exodus 4:10-17)

4. First uncircumcised Gentile Christian (Acts 10:1-48)

9. “One is your ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐, whereas all you are brothers” (Matthew 23:8)

10. “To time indefinite the offspring of evildoers will not be ‐‐‐‐‐” (Isaiah 14:20)

11. Jesus, the Greater Solomon, rode an ‐‐‐ (1 Kings 1:33-40; Zechariah 9:9; John 12:14-16)

12. “‐‐‐‐‐ may be false” (Proverbs 31:30)

13. Site of Jesus’ first miracle (John 2:1-11)

14. Sweet and fragrant plant (Song of Solomon 4:14)

16. Rebellious Miriam spent seven days outside the ‐‐‐‐ (Numbers 12:1-15)

18. Darius the ‐‐‐‐ ruled in Daniel’s day, not Ezra’s (Daniel 5:31)

20. Elizabeth conceived, despite her advanced ‐‐‐ (Luke 1:5-25)

22. “Place me as a ‐‐‐‐ upon your heart” (Song of Solomon 8:6, 7)

23. It had to be split (Leviticus 11:1-8)

24. Location of first garden (Genesis 2:7-14)

26. Moses’ copper serpent became an ‐‐‐‐ (2 Kings 18:1-5)

28. Astrologers (wise men) found Jesus in a ‐‐‐‐‐, not a manger (Matthew 2:7-12)

30. ‐‐‐ God’s words upon your heart for protection (Proverbs 6:20-23)

31. Esther’s father was Mordecai’s ‐‐‐‐‐ (Esther 2:5-8)

32. “She abounded in good deeds and gifts of mercy” (Acts 9:36-43)

33. From here Abraham went to Moriah to sacrifice Isaac (Genesis 21:31-34; 22:1-19)

34. After being stoned in Lystra, Paul left for ‐‐‐‐‐ (Acts 14:19-23)

Clues Down

1. One who denies that Jesus is the Christ (1 John 2:22; 4:2, 3)

2. Nimrod’s brother (Genesis 10:6-10)

3. Rebuilt Jerusalem’s wall despite threats and opposition (Nehemiah 2:17-20; 4:1-18; 6:10-15)

4. Not as precious as wisdom (Job 28:12-28)

5. Assyrian title (2 Kings 18:17–19:7)

6. Her faith was “without any hypocrisy” (2 Timothy 1:3-5)

7. Means “With us is God” (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:20-23)

8. His son Gaddiel spied out the Promised Land (Numbers 13:1-16)

15. Jesus was arrested here where he often met with his disciples (Matthew 26:36-56; John 18:1-5)

17. The land of promise

19. Believed in neither resurrection, angels, nor spirit (Acts 23:6-10)

21. Mother of Moses (Exodus 2:1-10; 6:20)

24. Older men (1 Peter 5:1-5, AV, RS)

25. Nimrod was a mighty one (Genesis 10:9)

27. This Greek word means “rock-mass,” and applies to Christ (1 Corinthians 10:4, Interlinear; 1 Peter 2:4-8)

29. Unable to speak until healed by Jesus (Matthew 15:30, 31)

CROSSWORD SOLUTIONS PAGE 27

Answers Across

1. AARON

4. CORNELIUS

9. TEACHER

10. NAMED

11. ASS

12. CHARM

13. CANA

14. CANE

16. CAMP

18. MEDE

20. AGE

22. SEAL

23. HOOF

24. EDEN

26. IDOL

28. HOUSE

30. TIE

31. UNCLE

32. TABITHA

33. BEERSHEBA

34. DERBE

Answers Down

1. ANTICHRIST

2. RAAMAH

3. NEHEMIAH

4. CORAL

5. RABSHAKEH

6. EUNICE

7. IMMANUEL

8. SODI

15. GETHSEMANE

17. PALESTINE

19. SADDUCEE

21. JOCHEBED

24. ELDERS

25. HUNTER

27. PETRA

29. DUMB

Housework​—a Clash of Attitudes

“I HATE housework!!!! And what’s more, I don’t do a very good job of it,” “A thankless, dull task that shall never again preoccupy my time,” responded two of fifty thousand housewives recently polled in an international survey. Ten percent of the respondents agreed.

Yet, on the other hand, many fit the description of Julie, who is up every morning at dawn to begin a daily ritual of housecleaning. Everything in her house gleams. All her friends envy the way it looks. Sometimes, Julie feels she should have more outside interests, but she sighs: “I’m a homemaker first, and we must have a clean house.” She strives for perfection.

Quite a difference of attitude from those who ‘hated’ housework! Does either viewpoint prevail in your home? Is either correct?

Certainly your attitude, or that of your mate, toward housework can have a direct bearing on your own comfort and happiness. But what is a realistic view of that which some consider a “curse” and others say is one of the “highest of feminine virtues”?

A husband, just returning from a weekend business trip, could hardly believe his eyes. The kitchen looked like a disaster area​—the stove covered with scorched pots and pans, the sink bulging with dirty dishes, the floor covered with grime and grease.

Beyond the kitchen, he saw the living room cluttered with newspapers, bottles and toys. His two little children were wrestling on top of a large pile of soiled laundry. And in the midst of all this chaos was his wife, calmly sitting in an easy chair, with her feet up on a table, leisurely reading. She said: “I thought the best way to let you see what on earth I do all day was not to do it.”

Yes, housework is important! Who of us does not enjoy coming into a clean, calm, orderly home? On the other hand, dirt and grime can irritate. They repel.

“But really, isn’t it more important to be a companion to your husband and to keep up with what’s going on in the world than to spend your life as a ‘lowly housecleaner’? After all, to expect someone with brains to spend all her time doing housework is just not fair,” say many. You may feel the same way.

However, to prevent housework from becoming a boring task that consumes all your time requires skill and initiative​—no small requirement in this age of mental laziness. As one authority states: “The woman who feels the importance of keeping her family comfortable, with a pleasant well-kept house and good food, is apt to snap right into her tasks and do them quickly and efficiently. And thereby finds more time to be a companion to her husband and children.”

Some homemakers are able to think about other things while doing certain parts of their housework that may require little concentration. For instance, some mentally plan future meals, organize their day’s schedule or reflect on spiritual matters.

Why do some women consider housework an important, dignified service? “It’s personal,” answered one homemaker with 21 years of experience. She explains: “I’m doing something personal to benefit someone else. We live in a world in which so many things are impersonal. You don’t see the immediate good of your work. However, housework affects another in a very personal way, and the satisfaction is immediate.” Many diligent housewives agree. They view their housework as a “labor of love” for their family.

Also, there is contentment in seeing a job well done. “I don’t know anyone who finds housework absorbing, fulfilling, challenging. However, like death and taxes, there it is,” candidly states one mother. Yet she admitted: “But, you know, when the copper gleams and the tables glow and the house smells fresh and the fire in the fireplace reflects the polished floor, I do get a smug feeling of accomplishment.”

Coupled with the “feeling of accomplishment” is a clear conscience, not always having to apologize for the condition of the home, and a sense of self-respect. All of these are fine reasons why housework should not be viewed as a “thankless, dull task.”

But what about persons like Julie, who must have a perfectly immaculate home?

Who Said You Had to Eat off the Floor?

“Relentlessly over the years, we have been threatened that if we don’t have a ‘whiter’ wash, squeaky-clean hair, a spotless floor, a glistening car,” claim two American professors complaining about some advertisers, “we are not keeping up to the proper (Madison Ave.-dictated) standards.” These experts assert that “cleanliness as a status symbol” has caused the huge demand for products that pollute our environment and has driven many women “to almost fanatical lengths to keep their families, home and themselves clean.”

Additionally, some women have been raised to view housework as one of the highest feminine virtues. These are obsessed with keeping an immaculate home​—regardless of how much time it takes.

“There is no better way to make your family and yourself miserable,” states the book How to Run Your House, “than to have the house so spotless that everyone is afraid to sit down on a chair or touch a table or walk across the room with his shoes on.” Naturally this comment should not be taken as a reason to excuse a housewife from being diligent to keep her home clean, but never forget why you do it​—to make your family comfortable. So do not steal their peacefulness by being overly fussy.

The most influential man ever to walk on earth, and a recognized authority for millions, made clear the balanced view of housework. While the guest of two sisters, Jesus Christ was confronted with this forceful complaint: “Lord, does it not matter to you that my sister [Mary] has left me alone to attend to things? Tell her, therefore, to join in helping me.” Mary had sat down at Jesus’ feet and “kept listening to his word,” and her sister Martha had to care for the housework​—preparing the meal. Martha evidently felt that this was her most important duty. But Jesus disagreed, saying: “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and disturbed about many things. A few things, though, are needed, or just one. For her part, Mary chose the good portion, and it will not be taken away from her.”​—Luke 10:38-42.

The spiritual matters that he was teaching were more important than a meal with “many things.” Jesus showed that only “a few things . . . or just one,” perhaps just one simple dish, was all that was “needed.” In other words, do what is “needed” so you can have time for more noble interests. How important that homemakers today remember this! But how can one gain such balance?

Developing a Balanced Attitude

First, set your priorities. Which should come first​—the house or those who live in it? Are your own standards so high that others feel uncomfortable? One homemaker concluded: “Provide the family with simple, nourishing food; clean beds; clean clothes; and a house clean enough for comfort. Everything else is optional.”

You will never get all the housework done. There is always something to do. So decide how much time you will devote to it. Then diligently do as much as your own pace allows. Reportedly, some women spend on the average as little as an hour a day straightening up their homes. Others may spend longer, depending on their family’s living habits, their own abilities, strength and circumstances.

Recognize your own limitations. As one experienced homemaker said: “As with money, so with our time and strength, we can’t overspend. If we try, we end up paying for it sooner or later. We can only do so much.”

However, some other homemakers struggle against another real weakness in the human makeup​—laziness. This can color one’s attitude about housework. The excuses of a lazy person are well known. The Bible mentions how the lazy one says that there are just too many problems standing in his way to work, it’s like a “brier hedge” before him. Or he is just too tired or “weary” to put forth any more effort. (Prov. 15:19; 26:15) If you see such tendencies in yourself, do something about it. “Great laziness” can lead to a ruined home​—in many different ways!​—Eccl. 10:18.

“But how can I know whether my present course is balanced or not?” some may be thinking. To help, let us consider a model homemaker described in the Bible, in Proverbs chapter 31.

A Model Homemaker​—A Surprising Description

The mother of an ancient king painted a vivid picture of the ideal housewife. This divinely inspired picture even ‘corrected’ the king’s thinking. True, it described this “capable wife” as one who was “watching over the goings on of her household” and who performed much of what some consider “woman’s work,” such as cooking and making clothing. Yet her interests and accomplishments were not limited to the house.​—Verses Prov. 31:10, 15, 21, 22, 27.

For instance, she was a careful shopper, bringing her food “from far away.” She sold her homemade items to tradesmen. She even made real-estate transactions and planted a vineyard​—no simple tasks! In fact, of the eleven specific tasks she is portrayed as performing, seven are transacted outside her home. Indeed, she was not a woman “chained to a mop and bucket”!​—Verses Prov. 31:13, 14, 16, 18, 24.

Her life was not wrapped up entirely with her housework. “Her palm she has stretched out to the afflicted one, and her hands she has thrust out to the poor one.” She was concerned with helping others, even those outside her family.​—Verse Prov. 31:20.

Such a woman was hard to find, but, once found, her value was priceless, “far more than that of corals.” Yes, precious red coral that has long been very highly prized for jewelry and decorative purposes generally was as nothing compared to this “jewel” of a woman! An industrious, balanced housewife, who does not eat “the bread of laziness” and has additional interests outside the home that benefit the family and others in need materially or spiritually, is just as precious today.​—Verses Prov. 31:10, 27.

But what happens when the homemaker must take on a full-time job outside the home?

Working Women​—A Changed Picture

“Financially I need to work, but I would love to stay home with my child,” bemoaned one housewife. “It is very hard trying to be wife, mother and homemaker after working eight hours.” She echoes the plight of an increasing number of women.

However, when the wife works outside the home a number of hours similar to the workday of the husband, there is a real need for understanding and help from the rest of the family. “I am very fortunate,” boasted one young housewife with a full-time job, “in having a husband who believes that one adult should not have to clean up after another adult, and that housework should be shared.” The children also can, and should, help. Especially so if theirs is a single parent who must work full time.

If others in the family are not overdemanding, but instead join in doing the work together, it can almost be fun, as one homemaker wrote: “Every day my husband scours the bathtub after his shower. After dinner, he cleans and scrapes the dishes, while I wash the stove, counters and put away leftovers. . . . Three nights ago my husband ironed while I prepared the dinner. We were able to talk about our day while we completed these tasks. . . . We often share cooking and make it fun​—drink a glass of wine and talk. If I had to do housework alone, I’m sure I would consider it drudgery.”

Such a husband not only proves his love for his wife by such assistance, but also shows consideration for her as what the Bible calls a “weaker vessel, the feminine one.”​—1 Pet. 3:7.

A Balanced View Brings Joy

“It’s balance that’s needed,” concluded an experienced housewife. “Your attitude can’t be too meticulous, or it’s uncomfortable. Or if you’re too sloppy there’s irritation on both sides. You’re irritated because of guilt for not doing it, and then the family is irritated because the dirt must be endured another day.”

Proper balance creates a clean-as-I-can-make-it home, but with a relaxed atmosphere prevailing inside. So keep housework in its proper place​—not first, and not last either. Balance is the key, or as the Bible well states the principle: “Let your reasonableness become known to all men.”​—Phil. 4:5.

Living Above the Arctic Circle​—and Enjoying It!

“BE BACK SOON!”

These words, appearing on the front page of the Norwegian daily Finnmarken last November 20, were addressed to the sun.

The reason?

Well, on that late November day the sun went under the southern horizon of Vadsö​—where the paper is published—​and was not to be seen in that north Norwegian town for the next two months. And in towns and villages farther north, such as Vardö, Baatsfjord, Berlevåg and Hammerfest (the northernmost town in the world), the long wintry night lasts even longer than that.

When the sun comes back in these places after its long absence, it is given a real welcome! In the mining town of Kirkenes, close to the Russian border, schoolchildren march up to a mountain just to look at the sun. In Vadsö, when the sun shines through an opening between two mountains for some five minutes, schoolchildren are given the day off​—the town celebrates. Still more to the north, in Vardö, the guns of the 14th-century fortress of Vardöhus contribute to the joy with a thundering salute.

“We’re moving in the right direction, towards summer,” people will say​—in January.

When the Sun Won’t Leave

There is a brighter side to the picture, however. The reason for the joy in Vadsö, after having glimpsed the sun in the dark wintry January, is the knowledge that this will lead to long, long days from late March to mid-September, yes, even to a period when the sun will never set​—from mid-May to the end of July.

Most people, living around the mid-belt of the globe, have their pace and pattern of life governed by a changeless rhythm of the rising and setting sun. But north of the Arctic Circle​—as well as in Antarctica down under—​this rhythm is broken during the year.

Since the earth is tilted on its axis, for six months the North Pole faces toward the sun, in eternal daylight, while the South Pole has a half-year-long night. So, if you lived on the North Pole the year around, you would have a six-month day, from March 21 to September 23, followed, unfortunately, by a six-month night of icy cold and ferocious blizzards. The farther south one lives from the North Pole, the shorter the midnight sun period will be. Coming to the Arctic Circle, located some 1,630 miles (2,600 km) from the North Pole, there is one day a year when the sun does not set all night, and, likewise, in the winter, one day when it does not rise.

What Makes the Night Bearable

Nowhere else on earth do so many people live as close to the North Pole as do those in Norway. The Arctic Circle bisects Norway so that a third of the country is above the Arctic Circle. Actually, this third lies between parallels where we find the icy and most forbidding areas of Greenland, Canada, Alaska and Siberia.

However, the warm Gulf Stream, which flows up the entire west Norwegian coast, creates a temperate climate in Norway that is not found so far north elsewhere in the world. Coastal districts enjoy mild winters and cool summers, and all ports are ice free during the winter. The land is pierced by numerous inlets and fjords, with large and small islands along a coastline about 12,000 miles (19,200 km) long.

Of the Norwegian population of 4,000,000, roughly 10 percent live north of the Arctic Circle, in the three northern provinces of Nordland, Troms and Finnmark. Evidently, people have enjoyed these areas for a long time, for traces of human activity indicate that hardy fishermen and hunters came here just as early as others came to inhabit the southern coasts of the country. Today, you will still find sturdy fishermen and hunters, as well as farmers, miners, shipbuilders, sailors, and quite a few factory workers above the circle.

Born Optimists?

A Danish lady, who moved north years ago, says that the Norwegian Northerner is a born optimist: “During a cold and wet summer he will say, ‘We may yet have a fine fall.’ And when that fails, he says, ‘Without doubt we’ll get a mild, fine winter.’ Then, when he is buried in snow and the blizzards are raging, he’ll venture the opinion, ‘Spring will be early this year.’ And when spring arrives with subzero weather and snowfall right up to midsummer eve, the matter is settled, ‘With summer coming that late, it will be warm and fine.’”

Optimists or not, people up here generally have a light temper. Jokes come easy and problems are not exaggerated. More often than not they are open, friendly and generous, and so an elderly Vadsö citizen, when asked why he enjoyed living up north, said: “Because of the people. And nature. Looking at the ocean, fishing in the rivers, climbing the steep hillsides or wandering over the mountain plateau​—all of it gives you a unique sense of freedom.”

A younger worker from a Finnmark fishing factory explained: “Nothing can be compared to fishing in a lake on the mountain plateau. It’s so free and open. I’d feel choked with a lot of trees around me.”

“Light Is Sweet”

A scripture close to the heart of Bible students up here is Ecclesiastes 11:7: “Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to behold the sun.” (Revised Standard Version) The dazzling beauty of the midnight sun does more than appeal to the eyes​—it contributes to health.

“When the dark season approaches, people will come asking for sleeping pills,” Dr. Tore Ask of Vadsö told us. “Many suffer from sleeplessness, they do not get naturally tired, as the body does not get the natural external signals that it’s time for sleep. It’s dark all the time​—awfully hard to get up in the morning, and the feeling of tiredness will be with them all through the day. It’s a nervous strain for many. On the other hand, the light season builds people up in many ways and helps them to endure the winter darkness.”

Dr. Ask, who came from southern Norway, says that he was immediately attracted to the land and the light: “I was so stimulated by the sun that I did not feel any urge to go to bed. And so it is for everybody. People have so much to attend to in the hectic summer weeks​—in the garden, in the house, with a car or a boat—​so they work in the sunlight until long after midnight.”

A Still Sweeter Light

Grethe (Danish), her husband Karl-Erik (Swedish), and the Norwegian couple Aashild and Öivind have found that the open, friendly and hospitable people also respond favorably to another kind of light​—the sweet message from the Bible telling of a paradise earth close at hand. As full-time publishers of Jehovah’s Witnesses, they came to the fishing town of Baatsfjord in January 1975. A congregation was established, and just five years later the congregation numbered 25 eager proclaimers of Bible truth.

“In addition to the 3,000 inhabitants of Baatsfjord, our territory includes fishing villages 25, 50 and 70 kilometersa from here,” says Aashild. “In the wintertime roads are closed, and we use the coastal line steamer to get to one of these villages. We leave on Sunday night, use the entire Monday preaching and conducting Bible studies in the village, and return by steamer on Monday night.”

Of their activity in the summer, she notes: “A group of us were in a remote district, using a small boat to reach isolated houses. The sun was shining, and people were working, so we kept visiting people until half an hour after midnight.”

Jehovah’s Witnesses in Norway now have 29 congregations, numbering 570 publishers north of the Arctic Circle. The Baatsfjord Congregation is the second-northernmost congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses in the world, after the Hammerfest Congregation in western Finnmark. All together, there are about 7,000 Kingdom publishers in Norway.

Grethe and Karl-Erik, being from Denmark and Sweden, have at times talked about leaving the barren mountains of Finnmark and seeking a warmer place. “We see many reasons for going south,” they explained, “but when we begin discussing the actual place where we could settle down, it becomes a little more difficult. And, invariably, we end up proposing some place here north of the Arctic Circle. Here we feel useful. We have the wide spaces, we have freedom and peace in beautiful surroundings, and we have lots of hospitable people interested in Bible truth.

“So, we’ll continue to look forward to more early springs, warm summers and brief, mild winters up here!”

[Footnotes]

[Picture on page 25]

Each day for two and a half months the sun never sets

Memories of the Cook Islands

IN APRIL 1980 one of Jehovah’s Witnesses from New Zealand served at an annual convention of the Witnesses in the South Pacific island of Rarotonga, one of the Cook Islands group. Upon his return, he jotted down what he called his Cook Islands experience:

. . . being greeted by happy Christian brothers and sisters at the Rarotonga International Airport at 4 a.m. and garlanded with leis (wreaths) of richly perfumed pink and white frangipani, flowers that grow wild on the island;

. . . the “kia orana” (welcome) spirit, i.e., being hugged and kissed in the accepted form of island greeting;

. . . showing slides of the Watch Tower Society’s world headquarters and the Lower Manhattan skyline on a screen mounted on the back of a truck, against a backdrop of coconut palms swaying in the moonlight;

. . . children using their Bibles during assembly sessions, eagerly trying to look up all the scriptures;

. . . a realistic Bible drama about a “fatherless boy,” with brown people playing the roles of brown people . . . looking around and seeing that many others, like yourself, are unashamedly shedding tears;

. . . a woman breast-feeding her baby in the front row during an assembly session;

. . . witnessing a baptism in the picturesque, turquoise lagoon;

. . . being commended by a little seven-year-old girl for a talk you gave and being told why she liked a certain illustration you used;

. . . roosters crowing to one another at all hours of the night . . . barking dogs . . . “in sleepless nights often” (2 Cor. 11:27) . . . with reference to the island’s many dogs, hearing a local radio announcer say, in jest, “You better stay home today, you may be run over by a dog”;

. . . children, during assembly intermissions, playing a form of baseball with a green tennis ball and a piece of wood . . . and when called from the game for a meal​—instant obedience;

. . . sisters wearing the same dress on three consecutive days . . . brothers bringing their neckties neatly folded in their shirt pockets, putting them on for their program parts and, then, back in the audience, removing them and returning them to their pockets;

. . . finding joy in simple things . . . boys fishing in the lagoon with homemade equipment (and catching fish) . . . little girls happily skipping and using as a “rope” a vine readily procurable on the beach . . . no television;

. . . brothers coming to the assembly from the outer islands at great personal cost (in their circumstances) and bringing their whole families . . . island families are generally large;

. . . no work in the assembly cafeteria during sessions, yet two nourishing meals each day . . . served in varied and imaginative ways . . . taro, raw tuna marinated in lemon juice and served with coconut sauce, goat meat, pork, chicken, breadfruit, avocado, island oranges, pawpaws, bananas, fruit cocktails;

. . . fathers, mothers and little ones, uncomplainingly being loaded on to the back of a truck for their homeward journey at close of each evening session;

. . . a colorful, never-to-be-forgotten farewell at the airport . . . flowers, island seashells, firm handshakes, warm embraces, wet eyes . . . a lingering sadness, and yet a heart filled to overflowing on the return flight to New Zealand . . . a silent prayer on behalf of the dear brothers and sisters in the Cook Islands and in the interests of the continued expansion of the work of Bible education in this remote South Pacific area.

Watching the World

Never Too Old to Learn

◆ According to Professor Gilbert Leclerc of the University of Sherbrooke, Quebec, the elderly have almost the same capacity for learning as do younger people. He recently said that research reveals that the average person uses only about 1.5 billion of the 12 billion nerve cells (neurons) in the brain. Though a number of neurons die with age, the most pessimistic estimate is about three billion. Thus he maintains the elderly are wrong when they believe that their intellectual capacities are so reduced that they can no longer learn. But, of course, poor health may interfere with their using those capacities as fully as would otherwise be possible. And with the advancing years the powers of memory lessen.

Blood Business “Booming”

◆ “The world market in human blood is booming, with the trade estimated to be worth well above $1 billion annually,” reports a feature story in the Vancouver Sun. It added: “The high profit margins and a fast-growing demand for human blood in wealthy nations is being filled, . . . by a relatively small number of the poorest people in developing nations. Recipients are charged about 40 times its cost.” The report claims that some 40,000 in south India support themselves by regularly selling their blood. Though the account asserts that it is the increase in heart surgery that has swelled the demand for blood, “one operation needing some 60 donations,” the fact is that centers in Texas, Toronto, New York and California are doing heart surgery without transfusions of blood and claiming equal or better success. Will such bloodless surgery become popular if it puts some people out of business?

Toothpaste to Fight Colds?

◆ Early this year a worker in a toothpaste factory in Hsining, Tsinghai Province, China, developed a toothpaste that supposedly prevents users from catching cold. He got the idea from fluoride toothpastes that are designed to inhibit tooth decay. The worker checked with physicians as to which Chinese herbs are used to treat colds. Then he ground up the herbs, mixed them into a toothpaste and found there was considerable demand for the product. Even those who already have colds are said to benefit. When the dentifrice was tested on 3,600 persons with colds, 63 percent claimed marked improvement.

Government Officials and Crime

◆ A survey in the U.S. of FBI field offices has revealed that the most widespread white-collar crime is corruption of state and local officials. Second in rank comes bank fraud and embezzlement. Also in high rank are arson for profit and illegal dumping of toxic wastes.

A Nagging Wife

◆ A fireman in a small community near Überlingen, Germany, was recently sentenced to pay a fine of 2,000 D-marks (about $1,200, U.S.) for turning in a half dozen false alarms. According to the Schwäbische Zeitung, he did this to escape his “continuously nagging wife.” After the fire department had been called out, the plagued husband looked forward to spending a few peaceful hours with his fellow firemen at their local meeting place. The judge showed understanding for the frustrated husband, but tried to convince him that this was no way to solve his marriage problems.

Inflation Rates

◆ According to the International Labor Organization, Argentina had the highest inflation rate last year​—140 percent. The report showed that Israel had the next highest rate, with 111 percent. Most countries in Africa reported more than 20 percent. Among the Asian lands, the rate was 10 to 25 percent. Kuwait had the lowest rate, with 4.4 percent.

Camels to the Rescue

◆ Kenya has begun to enlist the aid of camels in the fight against poachers. The poachers sell rhino horns for $300 (U.S.) a pound. The slaughter of black rhinos in the area around Meru National Park has reduced their numbers from 250 to 29. Then it was decided to use camels to help police the area. The head of a 42-member antipoaching team explained: “There is absolutely no doubt that a mounted camel unit has a number of advantages over men confined to motor vehicles. First, we’re totally independent of roads. We can get into country that’s inaccessible to conventional units. We’re silent and we don’t raise dust. Besides, you’ve got tremendous visibility from up there.” Further, he said, the camels cost less to operate, since they do not require gasoline and have no maintenance problems. On antipoaching expeditions, each camel is expected to travel at least 25 miles (40 km) a day, carry 300 pounds (136 kg) of gear and go 20 days without water.

Swiss Printers Visit Watchtower

◆ The printers of the Swiss typographical periodical Schweizerische Buchdruckerzeitung arranged an information trip to the United States for some of its readers from the printing trade in Switzerland and afterward published their impressions. During the visit, they paid several visits to printing factories in the United States, including one to the Watchtower Society’s facilities in Brooklyn, New York. The Swiss visitors had words of praise for the Jehovah’s Witnesses working there, saying: “We were impressed to find such a friendly, contented and hard-working staff.”

Professionals vs. the Family

◆ According to the Minister of Community and Social Services for Canada’s Ontario Province, social service professionals are becoming a threat to the family, taking more and more control of areas of “‘caring’ that were once the concern of family, friends, the church and volunteers.” Many judges today, on the recommendation of a social worker or physician, do not hesitate to take away custody of children from their own parents. “It’s terribly presumptuous to believe that a three- or four-year degree in social work makes someone more competent in the area of caring and makes parents and families less than competent,” Norton explained. A director of youth services added that there is “an over-intervention” in family matters. He argued that there is a difference between offering help and taking over the family.

Job Comes First

◆ If an earthquake occurred when you were away from home, whom would you call first? A survey of men in Japan revealed that only 9 percent would call their wives first. Instead, 37 percent said that they would call their employers before anyone else. This may help explain the result of a survey taken last year for the prime minister’s office. It found that 62 percent of single Japanese women desired marriage, but only 12 percent expected to derive happiness from it.

‘World’s Largest Flying Bird’

◆ Scientists have discovered the fossils of a giant bird that may have been the largest one ever to fly. The bird is the extinct teratorn, a name meaning “wonder bird.” Judging from the remains, found in Argentina, it truly was a wonder bird, its wingspan being 25 feet (7.6 m)! From beak to tail it measured 11 feet (3.4 m) and it weighed about 165 pounds (75 kg). “This makes it the world’s largest known flying bird,” said Dr. Kenneth E. Campbell, curator of vertebrate paleontology at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles. “It’s definitely a most spectacular creature.” With its 25-foot (7.6-m) wingspan, the teratorn eclipses the largest living flying bird, the Andean condor, with a wingspan of only 10 feet (3 m).

Centenarians on the Increase

◆ Japan’s Health and Welfare Ministry reported that the country now has 794 women and 174 men who are 100 years of age or older. It said that the number was increasing and that there are 31 more centenarians than in the previous year and 484 more than there were 10 years ago. The oldest person in Japan is said to be Shigechiyo Izumi of Tokunoshima Island, who was 115 years old on June 29, 1980. He is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest living person. However, in the Soviet Union the government claims that in several of its provinces many live to well beyond 100 years of age.

Medical Deficiency

◆ A commentary appearing in The Journal of the American Medical Association recently declared: “The area of nutrition has been neglected by the medical profession. Most medical schools devote less than three hours of total instruction to nutritional deficiency and therapy. Only 3% of all questions on parts I, II, and III of the National Boards deal with the nutritional aspects of disease. In short, physicians in the United States are not required to have any understanding of nutrition to be licensed to practice medicine.”​—Vol. 244, No. 6, p. 559.

Of Age But Still at Home

◆ For five years now, young people in the Federal Republic of Germany have been becoming of legal age at 18 instead of at 21, as before. An investigation by Munich’s German Youth Institute has revealed how this change has affected young people. According to the study, 78 percent of the 500 young people between 17 and 21 who were interviewed are still living at home with their parents, although about half of them are thinking about moving out. Only 6 percent, however, were looking for a chance to leave as soon as possible. According to the newspaper Der Tagesspiegel, the majority remain at home with their parents because they get along well, particularly in view of the fact that more and more parents are willing to tolerate late hours and dating. Only one third said they were required to obey parents’ orders to be home at any particular time.

‘Share-a-Priest’?

◆ The Sacred Congregation for the Clergy in Rome has issued a 29-page document calling for North American and European clergy to transfer some priests to Latin America and other less developed countries to cope with serious shortages of priests in those lands. The document pointed out that 45 percent of the world’s Catholics live in North America and Europe, but that they are looked after by over 77 percent of the available priests. At the same time, another 45 percent of the Catholics in the world live in Latin America and the Philippines with only 12.6 percent of the church’s priests to look after them.

Clergy reaction was swift. A bishop in Ontario complained: “They don’t, for instance, seem to know that about 80 per cent of our priests are over 50 years old.” And The Gazette in Montreal reported that a monsignor there called the plan “useless and destructive.” “Our priests are used to a North American lifestyle,” he said. Of course, the underlying problem is that there are few young men entering the priesthood, as the Vatican document itself mentioned. It is only a matter of time until the shortage will be more acute also in Europe and North America.

Dutch “Love” Boats

◆ In response to complaints that Rotterdam’s prostitutes were venturing out of their “legal” red-light districts into residential areas, the Dutch city’s executive reportedly approved a plan to put them out to sea. The plan calls for “floating brothels,” which could be operating by the end of the year. But official approval does not make the practice right or the fruitage good.

Vitamin E for Breast Cysts?

◆ Will moderate amounts of vitamin E help women with breast cysts? A study was made in this regard, using 26 women with cysts. They took moderate amounts of vitamin E, and 10 of them reported complete relief from the painful lumps. Said a report in The Journal of the American Medical Association of September 5, 1980: “The lumps went away and the patients noticed tremendous clinical improvement.” Why did the vitamin E provide relief for 38 percent of the women? “I can give you five pages of theory,” explained the Baltimore scientist who headed the research team, “but I’m really not sure.” It was observed that most of the women with cysts had high hormone levels and vitamin E had “profound effects” in reducing that level to normal.

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