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4 20 17

Are You Doing


Too Much?
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ALSO IN THIS ISSUE


8 The Amazing Arctic Tern
9 A Good Name Is Better Than Great Wealth
10 HELP FOR THE FAMILY
When the Children Are Gone
12 INTERVIEW
A Brain Pathologist Explains His Faith
14 THE BIBLES VIEWPOINT
Temptation
16 WAS IT DESIGNED?
The Brilliant Blue of the Pollia Berry
3 COVER SUBJECT
ARE YOU DOING
TOO MUCH?
s MOR E O N L I N E
Today, many people are extremely BIBLE QUESTIONS ANSWERED
busy, to the point that sometimes FAMILY
relationships are strained and fam- Can the Bible Help Me
ilies suffer. to Have a Happy Family?
How can we be balanced in our use Wise advice from the Bible has already
helped millions of men and women to have
r
of time?
happiness at home.
A wise man once wrote: Better is a (Look under BIBLE TEACHINGS BIBLE QUESTIONS
ANSWERED)
handful of rest than two handfuls
of hard work and chasing after the VIDEOS

w
VIEWPOINTS ON THE ORIGIN OF LIFE
wind.Ecclesiastes 4:6.
Monica Richardson:
This issue of Awake! provides A Physician Explains Her Faith
practical suggestions on making What she learned about the miracle of
wise use of our time, which in- childbirth changed her view on the origin
cludes setting practical priorities.
r of life.
(Look under PUBLICATIONS VIDEOS, in the category
Interviews and Experiences)

Vol. 98, No. 4 / ENGLISH Produced Each Issue: 60,240,000. Available in 117 Languages

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supported by voluntary donations. To make a donation, please visit www.jw.org. or a free home Bible study?
Visit www.jw.org, or send your request
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the modern-language New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures.
to one of the addresses below.
Awake! (ISSN 0005-237X) Issue 4 August 2017 is published bimonthly by Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc.; JEHOVAHS WITNESSES: UNITED STATES: 1000 Red Mills
L. Weaver, Jr., President; G. F. Simonis, Secretary-Treasurer; 1000 Red Mills Road, Wallkill, NY 12589-3299, and by Watch Tower Bible Road, Wallkill, NY 12589-3299. CANADA: PO Box 4100,
and Tract Society of Canada, PO Box 4100, Georgetown, ON L7G 4Y4. Periodicals Postage Paid at Brooklyn, N.Y., and at additional Georgetown, ON L7G 4Y4. For a complete list of worldwide
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5 2017 Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. Printed in Canada.
COVER SUBJECT

Are You Doing Too Much?


Do you feel you are too busy? If so, you are by no means alone.
Everybody, everywhere seems to be busy, reports the magazine
The Economist.

IN A 2015 survey of full-time workers spondents said that they often felt rushed
in eight countries, many respondents said even in their leisure time! Children too can
that they nd it hard to meet the demands be aected if overloaded with tightly
of both their work and their homelife. scheduled activities.
Causes included increased responsibilities When we constantly try to do more than
at work or at home, rising expenses, and time may allow, we can become stressed
longer working hours. In the United victims of what has been termed time
States, for example, full-time employees pressure. But is it possible to live a more
report working an average of 47 hours balanced life? What role do our beliefs,
a week. Nearly 1 in 5 claimed to work choices, and goals play? First, consider
60 hours or more! four reasons why some try to do too
In another survey, this one involving much.
36 countries, over one quarter of the re-

Awake! No. 4 2017 3


THE DESIRE TO PROVIDE
1 WELL FOR ONES FAMILY
I was involved in my work seven days
a week, says a father named Gary. I did it
because there was always something bet-
ter that I wanted to give my kids. I wanted
them to have the things I never had. De-
spite their good motives, parents need to
examine their priorities. Some studies
suggest that both adults and children who
attach a lot of importance to money and
material possessions tend to be less hap-
py, less satised with life, and less healthy
physically than those who are not materi-
alistic.
In an eort to position their children for
future success, some parents oversched-
ule both their children and themselves
with various activities. Such well-meaning
parents, says the book Putting Family
First, are acting like recreation directors
on a turbo-charged family cruise ship.
beth Kolbert, sta writer for the New York-
er magazine, people nd new things to
THE BELIEF THAT
2 MORE IS BETTER
needand these things cost money and
time.
Advertisers try to convince us that we
are depriving ourselves if we dont buy
their latest products. Says The Economist:
The explosion of available goods has only
3 TRYING TO SATISFY THE
EXPECTATIONS OF OTHERS
made time feel more crunched, as con- Some employees work grueling hours to
sumers struggle to choose what to buy or avoid displeasing their employer. Cowork-
watch or eat in the limited time they have ers can also exert pressure by making oth-
available. ers feel guilty if they do not stay late. And
In the year 1930, a leading economist then there is economic uncertainty, which
predicted that technological advance- can make people more willing to work lon-
ments would give workers more leisure ger hours or to be constantly on call.
time. How wrong he was! Instead of Similarly, parents can feel pressured to
quitting [work] early, observed Eliza- conform to the hectic pace of other fami-
Children who are raised with an emphasis on
material things are actually less happy

lies. If they do not conform, they may feel LEARN TO BE BALANCED


guilty about depriving their children. Diligence and hard work are encouraged
in the Bible. (Proverbs 13:4) But so is bal-
ance. Better is a handful of rest than two
4 THE PURSUIT OF STATUS
AND SELF-FULFILLMENT handfuls of hard work and chasing after
the wind, says Ecclesiastes 4:6.
Tim, who lives in the United States, Leading a balanced life is good for our
says: I loved my work, and I worked at full mental and physical health. Is it really pos-
throttle all the time. I felt that I had to sible, though, to cut back or slow down?
prove myself. Yes. Consider four suggestions:
Like Tim, many feel a strong con-
nection between their self-image and their
pace of life. The result? Busyness has ac-
quired social status, says Elizabeth Kol-
bert, quoted earlier. She adds: The busier
you are the more important you seem.

Awake! No. 4 2017 5


1 CLARIFY YOUR VALUES
AND GOALS
It is normal to want a measure of nancial se-
curity. But how much money is enough? What
constitutes success? Is it measured merely by
income or material assets? Conversely, hav-
ing too much rest or recreation can also in-
crease time pressure.
Tim, quoted earlier, says: My wife and I
took a hard look at our life and decided to
simplify it. We made a chart that showed our
current situation and our new goals. We dis-
cussed the eects of past decisions and what
we would need to do to reach our goals.

2 REDUCE THE INFLUENCE OF


CONSUMER CULTURE
Technology and The Bible advises us to control the desire
of the eyes. (1 John 2:15-17) Advertising can
Time Pressure fuel such desires, pushing a person to work
Do smartphones and tablets increase time long hours or to indulge in excessive or costly
pressure or relieve it? The answer depends recreation. True, you may not be able to
on how these tools are used. avoid all ads. But you can limit your exposure
At work: Mobile devices can give workers to them. You can also carefully consider what
more flexibility in choosing when and where you actually need.
to work. But they can also make work more Keep in mind, too, the power that your
stressful by creating the expectation that associates can have on you. If they avidly
workers will be available at almost any
pursue material things or if they measure suc-
hour of the day or night.
cess in material terms, you may be wise to
At home: Cell phones may reduce time
seek out friends who have better priorities.
pressure by making it easier for families to
coordinate their activities. However, these The one walking with the wise will become
devices can also intrude on family time. wise, the Bible says.Proverbs 13:20.
Studies indicate that children who have to
compete with devices for a parents atten-
tion may become frustrated and prone to
behavioral problems. 3 SET LIMITS ON WORK
Speak to your employer about your
work and your priorities. And do not feel
guilty about having a life away from your job.
The book Work to Live says: Those who put
Use mealtimes to talk as a family

up boundaries between the job and home parents. So avoid trying to match the pace
or take vacations nd one consistent reve- of other families who are constantly on the
lation: There is no apocalypse while youre go. Declare some downtime, Gary suggests,
gone. and drop things that have a lower priority.
Gary, quoted earlier, was nancially When your family is together, do not let
comfortable, so he decided to reduce his television, cell phones, or other devices iso-
working hours. I talked with my family late you from one another. Share at least one
and suggested that we simplify our life- meal together each day, and use mealtimes to
style, he said. Then we gradually took talk as a family. When parents heed that sim-
steps to do so. I also approached my em- ple advice, their children enjoy greater well-
ployer with a proposal to work fewer days being and do better at school.
each week, and he agreed. In conclusion, ask yourself: What do I
want out of life? What do I want for my fami-
ly? If you desire a happier and more mean-
MAKE FAMILY TIME
4 A HIGH PRIORITY
ingful life, set priorities that reect the proven
wisdom found in the Bible.
Husbands and wives need to spend time
together, and children need time with their

Awake! No. 4 2017 7


Tern migration follows an indirect path,
as shown in the illustration

The Amazing Arctic Tern

Carsten Egevang/ARC-PIC.com
IT WAS long believed that arctic terns ew As shown in the illustration, a common Atlan-
about 22,000 miles (35,200 km) on their jour- tic Ocean route took an S shape. The reason?
ney from the Arctic region to Antarctica and The birds simply take advantage of prevailing
back. Recent studies, however, revealed that wind systems.
the birds actually y much farther. During their lifetime of about 30 years,
Tiny instruments called geolocators were terns may travel well over 1.5 million miles
attached to a number of birds. About the (2.4 million km). That is equal to three or
weight of a paper clip, these amazing devices four round-trips to the moon! This is a
revealed that some terns ew an average of mind-boggling achievement for a bird of just
56,000 miles (90,000 km) on the round-trip over 100 grams [3.5 ounces], said a re-
the longest animal migration known. One searcher. What is more, because arctic terns
bird ew nearly 60,000 miles (96,000 km)! experience the summers at both poles, they
Why the revised estimates? see more daylight each year than any other
No matter where they began their migra- creature, states the book Life on Earth:
tion, the arctic terns ew an indirect route. A Natural History.
A good name, or reputation,
earns trust and respect

not respect someone who lived by those


A Good Name Is Better beautiful principles?
Another quality that contributes to
Than Great Wealth gaining respect is humility. Before glory
there is humility, says Proverbs 15:33.
A GOOD name, or reputation, is so Consider: The humble see where they can
valuable that in some lands it is legally make improvement and work hard to do
protected. That may include protection so. Also, they are willing to apologize if
against libel (a published or broadcast de- they have oended someone. (James 3:2)
famatory statement) and slander (an oral The proud are not like that but instead are
defamatory statement). This calls to mind quick to take oense. Pride is before a
the ancient saying: A good name is to crash, and a haughty spirit before stum-
be chosen rather than great wealth; to bling, says Proverbs 16:18.
be respected is better than silver and What, though, if someone smears your
gold. (Proverbs 22:1) How can we earn good name? Should you react hastily, per-
both a good name and the respect of oth- haps in the heat of anger? Ask yourself, If
ers? Excellent suggestions can be found I try to defend my name, will I actually be
in the Bible. giving wider exposure to the lie? While le-
For example, consider what the Bible gal action may be appropriate at times,
says in Psalm 15. In answer to the ques- the Bible gives this wise advice: Do not
tion, Who may be a guest in [Gods] rush into a legal dispute. Rather, plead
tent? the psalmist wrote: The one who your case with your neighbor. (Proverbs
is . . . practicing what is right and speaking 25:8, 9)1 This more measured approach
the truth in his heart. He does not slander can also spare you costly legal expenses.
. . . , he does nothing bad to his neighbor, The Bible is far more than a book about
and he does not defame his friends. He religion. It is a trustworthy guidebook for
rejects anyone who is contemptible . . . He life. All who apply its wisdom cultivate
does not go back on his promise, even qualities that merit deep respect and con-
when it is bad for him. . . . And he does not tribute to a good name.
accept a bribe. (Psalm 15:1-5) Would you 1 Additional Bible principles on conict resolution are found
at Matthew 5:23, 24; 18:15-17.

Awake! No. 4 2017 9


H E L P F O R T H E FA M I LY  M A R R I A G E

When the
Children
Are Gone

THE CHALLENGE WHY IT HAPPENS


Couples often face their great- For years, the children came rst. With good intentions,
est challenges after their chil- many parents put their childrens needs above the needs
dren have grown up and left of their marriage. As a result, they become so accus-
home. The empty nest can tomed to the roles of dad and mom that they lose their
leave them feeling like virtual connection as husband and wifea fact that becomes
strangers. I counsel many readily apparent once the children are gone. When the
people who dont know how to kids were there, at least we did things together, says a
reconnect to their spouses, 59-year-old wife. But after the children left home, she ad-
writes family expert M. Gary mits, we were on separate tracks. At one point she even
Neuman. Now that the chil- said to her husband, We are in each others way.
dren are gone, [the parents] Some couples are unprepared to adapt to this new
have very little to talk about or phase of life. For many couples, it is almost as though
to share.1 they are in a new marriage, says the book Empty Nest-
Does that to some degree de- ing. Feeling that they have little in common, many hus-
scribe your marriage? If so, bands and wives retreat into their own separate pursuits,
you can get back on track. becoming more like roommates than marriage mates.
First, though, consider some The good news is, you can avoid the pitfallsand even
factors that might be to blame enjoy the benetsof this new chapter in your life. The
for the distance that has de- Bible can help in that eort. Let us see how.
veloped between you and your
spouse.
1 From the book Emotional Infidelity.

r Find more help for families at www.jw.org


WHAT YOU CAN DO KEY S CRIPTURES
Resolve to accept the change. Concerning grown A man will leave his father and
children, the Bible says: A man will leave his father and his mother.Mark 10:7.
his mother. (Genesis 2:24) As parents, your goal was to
What God has yoked together,
train your children for that moment, to help them develop let no man put apart.
the skills they would need to function as adults. Viewed Matthew 19:6.
in that light, your childrens leaving home is something of
which you can rightly be proud.Bible principle: Mark Love is patient and kind.
1 Corinthians 13:4.
10:7.
Of course, you will always be a parent to your children. Is not wisdom found among
the aged?Job 12:12.
Now, however, you are more of a consultant than a super-
visor. This new relationship allows you to maintain a close
bond with your children while giving primary attention to
your spouse.1Bible principle: Matthew 19:6.
Share your concerns. Talk to your mate about how
this life transition aects you, and be ready to listen to
your spouses feelings as well. Be patient and under-
standing. It may take time to strengthen your connection
as husband and wife, but doing so is worth the eort.
Bible principle: 1 Corinthians 13:4. SALVATORE AND AURORA

Find new things to do together. Talk about goals We came to realize that we now
you would like to pursue together or interests you would had more time and that we needed
to take full advantage of it. So we
like to explore as a couple. Having raised children, you decided to reach out to more peo-
have gained much practical wisdom. Why not use that to plefamilies with children as well
help others?Bible principle: Job 12:12. as young couples. We love helping
others and sharing our experience
Rearm your commitment. Think about the qualities with them.
that attracted you to each other. As a couple, think back
on the history you have shared and the storms you have
weathered. In the end, this new chapter in your life can
be a good one. In fact, with cooperative eort you now
have the opportunity to improve the quality of your mar-
riage and rekindle the love that brought you together in
the rst place.
1 If you are still raising children, remember that you are one esh with
CARLO AND CATERINA
your spouse. (Mark 10:8) Children feel especially secure when they see that their
parents relationship is a solid one.
It took time to accept the idea that
our life had changed. For years we
talked mainly about the children.
Now, when doing things together,
we have gradually become accus-
tomed to talking about ourselves
and our interests.

Awake! No. 4 2017 11


INTE RVIE W  RA JESH KAL ARIA

A Brain
Pathologist
Explains His Faith
PROFESSOR Rajesh Kalaria, of
Newcastle University, England,
has studied the human brain for
more than 40 years. He used to
believe in evolution. But later, he
changed his views. Awake! asked
him about his work and faith.

Please tell us about your ing and camping with my and traditions, such as the
religious background. friends to see the spectacular worship of animals and
My father was born in India, wildlife. My initial goal was to images.
and my mother, although of In- be a veterinary surgeon. But
after graduating from a techni- Why did you accept the
dian origin, was born in Ugan-
cal college in Nairobi, I went to teaching of evolution?
da. Their lives were largely gov-
erned by Hindu customs. I am England to study pathology at In my younger years, many
the second of three children. the University of London. Lat- people around me held the
We lived in Nairobi, Kenya. er, I specialized in research view that human evolution be-
Many other Hindu people lived into the human brain. gan in Africa, and we often dis-
nearby. cussed this idea at school.
Did your studies aect Also, the teachers and univer-
What stimulated your your religious beliefs? sity professors gave us stu-
interest in science? Yes. The more I studied dents the impression that all
I was always interested in science, the harder I found it respected scientists believe in
animals, and I often went hik- to believe in Hindu mythology evolution.
In time you reconsidered from both inside and outside instructions, growing bers
the question of the origin of the body. would soon get lost. The
life. Why? Our brain functions the way whole process is brilliantly
I had been studying biology it does largely because of its orchestrated, starting with
and anatomy for some years complex chemistry and intri- the instructions written in
when a fellow student told me cate networks of neurons, the our DNA.
what he was learning about the primary brain cells. The hu- That said, we are far from
Bible from Jehovahs Witness- man brain has many billions understanding fully how the
es. I became curious. So when of neurons, which communi- brain develops and functions,
the Witnesses held an assem- cate with one another through including how it forms memo-
bly at our college hall in Nai- long bers called axons. From ries, emotions, and thoughts.
robi, I attended. Later, two these, a single neuron may For me, just the fact that
Witness missionaries explained make many thousands of con- the brain worksnot to men-
some Bible teachings to me. nections with other neurons by tion how well it works and
Their belief in a Grand Design- way of branching bers called how beautifully it develops
er who has the answers to lifes dendrites. As a result, the total points to a mind far superior
big questions did not sound number of connections in the to our own.
like mythology. It appealed to brain is astronomical! What is
more, this dense forest of Why did you become one
me as being reasonable.
neurons and dendrites is, not of Jehovahs Witnesses?
Did your medical knowledge chaotic, but precise. It is an The Witnesses showed me
hinder your belief in creation? amazing feat of wiring. evidence that the Bible is Gods
On the contrary! As I Word. For example, the Bible
Please explain. is not a science book, but
studied anatomy, I saw how
well-designed and complex liv- The wiring progresses in a when it touches on scientic
ing things are. To attribute most orderly way during a ba- matters, it is consistently cor-
such a high level of sophistica- bys development in the womb rect. It also contains accurate
tion to an unguided process no as well as postnatally. Neurons prophecies. And it improves
longer made sense to me. send out bers to target neu- the lives of those who apply its
rons that may be a few centi- teachings. My own life is evi-
Can you give us an example? meters awaya vast distance dence of that. Since I became
I have studied the on the cellular level. The target one of Jehovahs Witnesses in
human brain since the early of a ber, by the way, may be 1973, the Bible has been my
1970s, and this remarkable or- not just a specic cell but a guidebook. As a result, my life
gan never ceases to amaze specic part of that cell. has become truly satisfying
me. It is the seat of thought As a new ber branches and purposeful.
and memory and the control out from a neuron, it is guided
center for many bodily func- by chemical signposts that say
tions. The brain is also the such things as stop, go,
hub of our many senses, inter- or turn until the ber reach-
preting information that comes es its target. Without clear

Awake! No. 4 2017 13


T H E B I B L E S V I E W P O I N T  T E M P TAT I O N

T E M P TAT I O N
Broken marriages, ill health, pangs of consciencethese are just some of the
consequences of giving in to temptation. How can we avoid this snare?

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS Being tempted does


What is temptation? not make you a bad person. The Bible ac-
knowledges that we all experience tempta-
You are tempted when you are attracted
tion. (1 Corinthians 10:13) What really
to somethingespecially something
matters is how we act when tempted.
wrong. To illustrate, while shopping you
Some dwell on the improper desire and
see a desirable item. The thought ashes
sooner or later give in to it. Others
into your mind that you could easily steal
promptly dismiss it as wrong.
the item and not get caught. However,
your conscience says no! So you dismiss
the thought and move on. At that Each one is tried by being drawn out
point, the temptation is over, and you and enticed by his own desire.
are the victor. James 1:14.

Why is it wise to act quickly when tempted?


The Bible reveals the steps that lead sation with a friend, or a wholesome
to wrongdoing. James 1:15 says: The [im- thought. (Philippians 4:8) It is also helpful
proper] desire, when it has become fertile to reect on the consequences of giving
[literally, has conceived, footnote], gives in to a temptation, which may include
birth to sin. Put simply, when we dwell on emotional, physical, or spiritual harm.
a wrong desire, we reach a point where (Deuteronomy 32:29) Prayer too can be a
our acting on it becomes as inevitable as a big help. Jesus Christ said: Pray contin-
pregnant womans giving birth. Yet, we can ually, so that you may not enter into temp-
avoid being slaves to improper desires. We tation.Matthew 26:41.
can gain the mastery over them.
HOW THE BIBLE CAN HELP Just as our
Do not be misled: God is not one to be
mind can feed improper desires, it can
mocked. For whatever a person is sowing,
also snu them out. How? By our focusing
this he will also reap.Galatians 6:7.
on something elsean activity, a conver-

r Find more answers to Bible questions at www.jw.org


How can you fortify yourself against temptation?
THE REALITY See temptation for what it tion. Turn my eyes away from looking at
really isa lure, or bait, that can lead a what is worthless, prayed a faithful man
foolish, naive, or unwary person into dan- of God.Psalm 119:37.
ger. (James 1:14, footnote) That is espe- Of course, exercising self-control can be
cially true of temptations involving sexual dicult. After all, the esh is weak. (Mat-
immorality, which can have disastrous thew 26:41) So we will make mistakes.
consequences.Proverbs 7:22, 23. However, when we are truly sorry and try
HOW THE BIBLE CAN HELP If, now, your right hard not to make a habit of doing wrong,
eye is making you stumble, said Jesus our Creator, Jehovah God, is merciful and
Christ, tear it out and throw it away from compassionate toward us. (Psalm 103:8)
you. (Matthew 5:29) Of course, Jesus was How reassuring that is!
not speaking literally! Rather, he meant
that if we want to please God and gain
everlasting life, we must deaden our body If errors were what you watch, O Jah,
members, as it were, in regard to wrong- then who, O Jehovah, could stand?
doing. (Colossians 3:5) That may mean Psalm 130:3.
resolutely turning our back on a tempta-

Awake! No. 4 2017 15


WA S I T D E S I G N E D ?

The Brilliant Blue of the Pollia Berry

5 National Geographic Creative/Alamy Stock Photo


THE small berry of the Pollia condensata when examined closely, the colors are not
plant, found across Africa, exhibits the smooth and even but appear pixelated,
most intense blue color ever seen in a like the colors on a computer screen.
plant. Yet it has no blue pigment. What is Since Pollia berries have no pigment,
the secret behind its striking color? they keep their color even after they drop
Consider: The cell walls in the skin from the plant. In fact, some berries col-
of the berry contain tiny threads arranged lected over a century ago look as brilliant
like rows of matches. These threads form as fresh ones! Even though the berry has
layers, each layer set o at a slight angle no edible pulp, just seeds, it sends an ir-
to the layer below, so that the rising layers resistible signal to nearby birds, according
form a helical, or spiral, pattern. The to researchers.
threads themselves are not colored blue. Scientists believe that the Pollia
The color comes from the way the threads berrys pigment-free color could inspire
are stacked. Thus, structure, not pigment, products ranging from fade-resistant dyes
is the key to the berrys intense metallic to counterfeit-resistant paper.
hue and iridescence. Most cells appear What do you think? Did the brilliant
blue. But from dierent angles, some emit blue of the Pollia berry come about by
a green, pink, or yellow hue because of evolution? Or was it designed?
subtle changes in the layers. Moreover,

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