“A
clear conscience is a great step toward barricading the mind
against neuroticism.”
--William
Sadler, Psychiatrist
While
visiting a park, Dale Carnegie observed a
grizzly bear eating with a skunk.
The grizzly allowed no other animal to eat with him.
Although he resented the skunk, the bear would not pick a
fight with him. He
had no doubt learned the high cost of getting even.
Jesus
Christ gave us a very valuable lesson when He said, “If
someone sues you for your jacket, give him your coat also.
If he compels you to walk one mile, go with him two”.
(Matt. 5:41)
It’s
not always worth a battle to gain our so-called rights.
We must determine if the issue is important enough to
risk our peace of mind, health and general well-being. It's
possible to win a battle and lose the war! There are times
it is far better to walk away from a fight, even if it means
we have to eat humble pie.
Jesus
also said, “Love your enemies, pray for those
who despitefully use you and persecute you”.
(Matt. 5:44) The law of Moses was more rigid, “An eye for
an eye and a tooth for a tooth”. (Ex. 21:24)
Sometimes
it is far better, however, to walk the extra mile, turn the
other cheek, or give away a jacket or overcoat, than to end
up with a bad case of nerves, ulcers or sleepless nights!
LOVE
IS THE SOLUTION TO MANY ILLS
In
the past, some have criticized the advice that Jesus Christ
gave about loving our enemies as impractical and
unrealistic, but psychiatrists are now recommending it as a
solution for many ills!
The
Ayatolleh Khoemeni was wrong when he said:
“Like Moses, Jesus the Blessed would have picked up a
sword, had He lived longer.” Our Lord Jesus said: “…for
all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.”
(Matt.26:52)
Napoleon
Bonaparte correctly stated: “I
see in Lycurgus, Numa, and Muhammed
only legislators who, having the first rank in
the state, have sought the best solution of the social
problem, but I see nothing there which reveals divinity...
“You
speak of Caesar, of
Alexander, of their conquests, and of the
enthusiasm they enkindled in the hearts of their soldiers;
but can you conceive of a dead man making conquests with an
army faithful and entirely devoted to his memory?
My armies have forgotten me,
even while living, as the Carthaginian army forgot Hannibal.
Such is our power!
“Alexander,
Caesar, Charlemagne, and myself founded
empires. But on
what did we rest the creations of our genius?
Upon force!
Jesus Christ alone founded His Empire upon love; and,
at this hour, millions of men would die for Him.”
St.
Paul stated: “Therefore if thine enemy hunger,
feed him; if he thirst, give him drink…Be not overcome of
evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Rom.12:
20-21) The Holy Spirit taught him the real values of life!
He was a self-righteous Pharisee who thought he was doing
God’s will by imprisoning and killing Christians. Then he
met Jesus on the Damascus Road. He was converted and
received a new spirit and world - view!
Booker
T. Washington, a black American who became famous
in spite of prejudices against his colour and who was
insulted on numerous occasions, wrote, “I will not let any
man reduce my soul to the level of hatred”.
The
famous physiologist Dr. John Hunter, knew
what anger could do to his heart.
“The first scoundrel that gets me angry will kill
me”, he stated.
Sometime
later, at a medical meeting, a co-worker made assertions
that incensed Hunter. As
he stood up and bitterly attacked the speaker, his anger
caused such a contraction of the blood vessels in his heart
that he fell dead!
In
his book, ‘None of These Diseases’ Dr.
S.I. McMillen relates numerous accounts like the above,
which prove that powerful negative emotions can make you
sick and even cause death!
HATRED
HOLDS YOU CAPTIVE!
According
to medical researchers, verbal expressions of animosity
toward others call forth certain hormones from the
pituitary, adrenal, thyroid and other glands, an excess of
which can cause disease in any part of the body.
Says
McMillen, “The minute you begin hating
someone, you become his slave. Hatred holds you captive and
robs you of peace of mind, and your time is spent recounting
unpleasant situations.
Your enemy consumes your every waking moment and
hatred holds your mind hostage.”
You
are tormented by the demons of hatred, jealousy and envy.
Your only desire is for revenge.
It isn't worth it; let it go! Release the hatred,
bitterness and resentment, and the healing powers within you
will begin to function.
King
Solomon stated, that it is better to be served
a dish of vegetables with love, than to have the
best beef served with hatred. (Prov. 15:17)
Internationally
known psychiatrist, Alfred Adler, wrote,
“The most important task imposed by religion has always
been, ‘Love Thy Neighbour’.
It is the individual who is not interested in his
fellowman, who has the greatest difficulties in life and
provides the greatest injury to others.
It is from such individuals that all human failures
spring”.
RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN SIN & SICKNESS!
Shakespeare
saw the relationship between sin and disease.
It was the memory of Duncan’s murder that produced
psychosomatic overtones in Lady MacBeth. When MacBeth asked
the physician about her illness, he replied:
"Not
so sick, my Lord. As she is troubled with thick coming
fancies that keep her from rest." Then the doctor
asked:
“Canst
thou not minister to mind diseas'd,
Pluck
from the memory a rooted sorrow,
Raze
out the written troubles of the brain,
And
with some sweet oblivious antidote
Cleanse
the stuff'd bosom of that perilous stuff
Which
weights upon the heart?”
A French proverb says, “There is no pillow as soft
as a clear conscience”.
And psychologist Henry C. Link stated, “The
emphasis on sin has largely disappeared from the teaching of
religion...at the very time when psychology has
discovered its importance and extended its meanings”.
The
Bible says: “But if we walk in the light, as
He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and
the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all
sins. If we confess our sins (to God)
He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse
us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:
7-9) What an opportunity to be forgiven and healed at the
same time!
Let
us take a lesson from the grizzly bear and learn to avoid
strife wherever possible! In a complex world, we must learn
to co-exist, remembering the Scripture that says, “If it
possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all
men”. (Rom. 12:18)
In
my opinion, Dr. S.I. McMillen’s book is one of the
greatest ever written, by a physician who - like Dr.
David Livingstone - spent years on the Mission
field ministering to the many needs of the poor and
neglected masses there!
