No smoking

"Thank You For Not Smoking" signs are increasingly evident in offices and public places in the United States. My husband and I display one in our office, and it frequently provokes statements like this: "I wish I'd never started this nasty habit. I've tried to stop smoking but can't. Guess I don't have enough willpower."

But it isn't willpower that's required. Christ Jesus lifted crushing burdens of sickness and sin, not through personal determination but scientifically -- through deep comprehension of the infinite power of God.

As more and more people become aware of the profound strength available to them through an understanding of God and man's relation to Him, they will tackle successfully the addiction to tobacco.

Since God is good, we would expect His creation to be free of evil -- and it is. Man is perfect because God is perfect Love.

Self-government is characteristic of God's sons and daugthers. That is, nothing can interfere with the control they have from their creator. Intelligence and wisdom are divine qualities, and they, not self-will, rule man. Mary Baker Eddy n1 writes: "Human will-power is not Science. Human will belongs to the so-called material senses, and its use is to be condemned." n2

n1 Mrs. Eddy is the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science;

n2 Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,m p. 144,

Popular concepts of self-contrl are based on the use of the human mind to resist demands of the body. Hypnosis, autosuggestion, and substituting one substance for another fall into that category. What is missing in these efforts to stop smoking is the healing of the root cause -- the belief in man's separation from Deity, of being beyond God's control. Material methods of cure involved trying to do something to a material body and mind. But the real man is not composed of contrary qualities, of good and evil, or of a mind capable of being influenced by both God and material desires. We are really spiritual and satisfied. We can know that nothing in us resists the law of god.

Real satisfaction comes as we cherish and live this true view of ourselves. Then we won't be fooled by advertising that claims smoking brings pleasure, or that it is an essential accouterment to modern living.

Surveys indicate that while the number of men smokers in the United States is declining, more teen-age and adult women are taking it up. One reason given by some is the desire to seed equality in the workplace by adopting what are believed to be the norms of a male-dominated business and professional world. But is this really necessary? The man and woman god made already express the qualities of insight, wisdom, strength. a limitless God results in a likeness that is unlimited in intelligence, capability, and energy.

By exercising our God-derived freedom of choice, we can reject smoking. What better role model is available than our unshackled true self!

Knowing we are God's children, we can depend on Him, not on the tobacco crutch. We can stand firmly on the fact that man belongs to God, not to an enslaving habit. Procrastination and self-indulgence are not noted problem solvers. the Psalmist, praising God, said, "As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness." n3 Our vigorous persistence in looking away from matter to God for true happiness makes that awakening more evident each day. Freedom from smoking will be a natural outcome.

N3 Psalms 17:15.

DAILY BIBLE VERSE Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy peace? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. Psalm 24:3-5