Awake!, January 22, 1995

Awake! — January 22, 1995

Source: jw.org

Contents

Page Two

Is Your Life Boring? You Can Change It!

An Easy Solution to Boredom?

In Search of Orchids in Europe

Joshua’s Faith—A Victory for Children’s Rights

The Megapode and Its Scrambled Eggs

How Can I Improve My Wardrobe?

Who Will Evangelize Britain?

Rice—Do You Prefer It Boiled or Raw?

Watching the World

From Our Readers

“My Opinion of a Doctor’s Duty Has Changed”

They Keep Her Informed

Page Two

Is Your Life Boring? You Can Change It! 3-7

In an age of repetitious work activity, many seek to relieve their boredom with drink, drugs, sex, or crime. How can boredom be overcome?

In Search of Orchids in Europe 8

Orchids in the Tropics, of course. But in Europe? Some 350 species are there!

Rice—Do You Prefer It Boiled or Raw? 24

The Western world’s use of rice is quite different from the way it is prepared in India. Take a fascinating glimpse into another culture.

Is Your Life Boring? You Can Change It!

BY AWAKE! CORRESPONDENT IN SPAIN

MARGARET and Brian were in their mid-50’s when a golden opportunity arose: early retirement with a good pension. It was then that they decided to head south for the sun and beaches of the Mediterranean. No more cares, no more worries—a life of ease awaited them in their seaside chalet.

After two years the dream turned sour. Brian explained: “It all seemed so pointless—day after day with nothing to do. Of course I would swim, play a bit of golf or a little tennis, and talk endlessly to anyone who would listen. About what? Trivialities.”

Gisela, a mother in her early 20’s, has a beautiful little girl. In the afternoon mother and daughter, as usual, go down to the park, where the daughter plays in the sandpile, fully absorbed, happily making sand pies and sand castles. Meanwhile, mom sits on a nearby park bench and watches over her toddler. Or does she? There she sits, her ears glued to her portable radio. Through the smoke of her cigarette, she hardly sees her little child anymore. She is bored to tears.

Peter, a 17-year-old high school student, sits in his room, surrounded by the latest electronic wizardry. He turns on one of his video games, only to discover that it just doesn’t interest him anymore. He has played it hundreds of times already, and he now knows how to beat the machine anyway. Listen to some music? Yet, there is no recording he owns that he hasn’t already listened to dozens of times. Bored to death, he laments: “I don’t know what to do.”

Are You Killing Time?

To be sure, not everyone’s day is dull and gray. Many still live happy and meaningful lives, finding fulfillment by learning new things, by satisfying their creative instincts, and by cultivating good relationships with other people—and even far more important, with God.

However, boredom affects people of all walks of life—1 out of every 3 Germans, according to a recent poll. The ambitious Yuppie who restlessly frequents all the popular entertainment places in town, the unemployed youth who kills time with loud music and cheap beer, the middle-aged blue-collar worker who wastes the weekend watching television, the executive who feels lost when he leaves his office—all suffer from a common complaint: boredom.

Ancient philosophers called it taedium vitae (Latin for weariness of life). In German it is Langeweile (a long while). Time that drags, work that seems to be meaningless, the yearning “to get away from it all” are the all-too-common earmarks of boredom.

Not even the wealthy are immune. After describing the lavish life-style of the big spenders, Time magazine’s Roger Rosenblatt observed: “After the big house and the big garden and the big animals, parties and people, what do most of the world’s big spenders announce? That they are bored. Bored.”

It was thought at one time that increased leisure would be the panacea for boredom. The assumption was that humane working conditions, ending the monotonous drudgery of the past, and a generous amount of leisure time would make life rewarding for the man in the street. Unfortunately, though, it is not that simple. Deciding what to do with all this free time has proved to be more difficult than expected. Many eagerly anticipate all week long an enjoyable weekend, only to find that when it arrives it just doesn’t live up to their expectations.

Boredom’s Negative Results

Some seek escape from boredom by immersing themselves in hyperactivity. Some compulsive workaholics got that way because they just did not know what to do with their time when they weren’t at the office. Others drown their boredom in alcohol or search for excitement by experimenting with drugs. Not a few of the fast-living stars of the entertainment world fill the void, when the applause is over, with drugs such as cocaine. Boredom has been identified as one of the reasons for the ever-growing number of unwed teenage mothers, many of whom may have thought that a baby would fill their empty lives.

Boredom is even being linked to the rising crime rate. Time magazine observed that a number of youngsters leave school at 16 and have nothing to do and that the unemployed of Western Europe, compared with their working peers, are “more likely to commit suicide, more susceptible to drug abuse, more prone to out-of-wedlock pregnancies and more inclined to break the law.” This seems to confirm again the old adage that “Satan finds some mischief still for idle hands to do.”—Compare Ephesians 4:28.

An Easy Solution to Boredom?

PROVIDING endless amusements for millions of bored customers is now a big business. Exotic holidays, sophisticated electronic gadgetry, elaborate hobbies are all contrived to help kill the customers’ time. Yet, boredom still looms large. Even on vacation, bored vacationers need animators to keep them in high spirits. And many a dedicated jogger feels lost without his portable radio to accompany him.

There is no doubt that entertainment, such as television, creates excitement and dissipates boredom, but for how long? For some it is like a habit-forming drug. The next time, greater stimulus and more excitement are needed—otherwise the dreary seen-it-all-before sensation takes over again. Rather than being the solution, such entertainment can end up being one of the contributing factors to boredom.

TV, in itself, doesn’t cause boredom, but excessive television will not banish boredom either. Worse still, the more you are ‘plugged in’ to the TV set, the more you can get disconnected from reality. In the case of children, this happens all too often. In one study in which children ages four and five were asked whether they would prefer to give up TV or their father, 1 out of 3 decided that life would be more bearable without daddy!

Pandering to every desire is not the solution either. Many young people are now “raised in a period of material well-being, with every toy, every vacation, every new fashion,” observed a Social Democratic deputy in the German parliament. Is there anything they can still get excited about? It may well be that good-natured parents who shower their children with all the latest gimmicks are really paving the way to an adulthood plagued with chronic boredom.

The Root Causes of Boredom

Escaping boredom completely is an unrealistic goal. Life in this world can never be one of continuous excitement and happiness. Such an unrealistic expectation could well cause needless dissatisfaction. At the same time, there are definite factors that aggravate matters.

For instance, today more and more families are falling apart. Could it be that mom and dad are so absorbed with their own entertainment that they don’t spend enough time with the children anymore? Not surprisingly, teenagers search for their own ways to amuse themselves in discos, video parlors, shopping centers, and the like. Consequently, in many homes family outings and other joint activities have become things of the past.

Still others are so dissatisfied with their humdrum lives that they unconsciously retreat into their shell, doing their own thing, oblivious of anyone else. And while they isolate themselves more and more, they entertain the vain hope of achieving what can be called self-realization. But it just doesn’t turn out that way. After all, no man is an island. We need company and communication. It is inevitable, therefore, that individualists who isolate themselves spread boredom, unwittingly making life dreary for themselves and for those around them.

However, the problem is somewhat deeper, as Blaise Pascal, a 17th-century French philosopher, pointedly observed: “Weariness [arises] from the depths of the heart wherein it has its natural roots and [fills] the mind with its poison.” How true!

As long as the heart is full of nagging doubts as to the whys and wherefores of life, boredom is bound to stay. Heartfelt conviction that one’s personal life has meaning is needed. Yet, how can anyone face life with a positive outlook without knowing why he is here, without having goals, without having well-founded hopes for the future?

Here is where the ultimate questions arise: What’s the meaning of life? What am I here for? Where am I going? “The striving to find a meaning in one’s life is the primary motivational force in man,” observed Dr. Viktor Frankl. However, where can such a meaning be found? Where can these questions be satisfactorily answered?

Less Boredom—How?

The oldest of all books provides enlightenment on such ultimate questions. Said Heinrich Heine, a 19th-century German poet: “I owe my enlightenment quite simply to the reading of a book.” Which book? The Bible. Charles Dickens likewise said: “It is the best book that ever was or will be in the world, because it teaches you the best lessons by which any human creature . . . can possibly be guided.”

There is no doubt about it. The Bible is a sure guide toward a meaningful life. From beginning to end, it makes a point of showing that God gave man work to do. Man was to care for the earth, to beautify it, to exercise loving oversight of animal life, and, above all, to praise the Creator, Jehovah. Quite some task, one which would not leave room for boredom! Millions of active Christians have discovered that supporting God’s cause, being dedicated and fully devoted to him, does indeed add meaning to life and crowds out boredom.

Widespread boredom may be a modern phenomenon—most ancient languages don’t appear to have a word for it. Still, the Bible, along with showing us the meaning of life, contains practical suggestions for combating boredom. For example, it states that ‘one isolating himself will break forth against all practical wisdom.’ (Proverbs 18:1) In other words, don’t retreat into a shell!

Man is gregarious by nature. He needs to relate to other people, and he has an inborn need for company. Stifling this normal desire to mix with other people—being a loner, a mere onlooker—is unwise. Likewise, limiting ourselves to just superficial personal relationships is tantamount to ignoring all practical wisdom.

It is, of course, so much easier passively to watch movies or to limit our communication to punching data into a computer. Adapting to other people is quite a challenge. Yet, having something worthwhile to say and sharing thoughts and feelings with others is rewarding and leaves little room for boredom.—Acts 20:35.

Solomon, who was a keen observer of human nature, made this forceful recommendation: “It is better to be satisfied with what is before your eyes than give rein to desire.” (Ecclesiastes 6:9, The New English Bible) In other words, make the most of your present circumstances. Concentrate on what you see now. That is so much better than wishfully longing to get away from it all or ‘giving rein to desire,’ as Solomon put it.

Well-planned days, definite goals, and an earnest desire to keep on learning will also help you to prevail over boredom. Why, even after retirement, a person can still achieve many things. One of Jehovah’s Witnesses in the Balearic Islands, a retired man in his early 70’s, is eagerly learning German. His goal? He wants to talk about God’s Word to many a bored holiday visitor from Germany. Boredom is certainly not a problem for him!

Finally, what about doing something with your hands? Why not acquire skills in some handicraft, in painting, or in playing a musical instrument? Self-esteem grows when there is a sense of achievement. Why not think about rolling up your sleeves and offering your help around the house? There are so many little things that usually need to be fixed in any home. Instead of brooding about your boring life, make yourself available, do meaningful work at home, become skillful in some craft. You will not be left unrewarded.—Proverbs 22:29.

Furthermore, the Bible advises us to work whole-souled in whatever project we may undertake. (Colossians 3:23) That of course means to get involved, to be genuinely interested in what we are doing. It may be worth remembering that the English word “interest” comes from the Latin interesse, which literally means “to be between, or among,” in other words to be absorbed in the task at hand. That will make it interesting.

All this good advice penned many years ago, if applied, would make all the difference for victims of free-time blues. Therefore, be absorbed in what you do. Get involved with other people. Do things for others. Keep on learning. Communicate freely with others. Discover the real purpose of life. By doing all of this, you will not be prone to sigh: ‘Why is life such a bore?’

[Box on page 7]

How to Beat Boredom

1. Don’t allow personal initiative to be crippled by ready-made entertainment. Be selective as to distractions and entertainment.

2. Relate to people.

3. Keep learning. Have personal goals.

4. Be creative. Do something with your hands.

5. Have a purpose in life. Take God into consideration.

In Search of Orchids in Europe

BY AWAKE! CORRESPONDENT IN THE NETHERLANDS

ORCHIDS fascinate people everywhere. These plants are synonymous with exotic beauty and colorful splendor. Their occurrence in impenetrable tropical forests adds to the mysterious aura surrounding them. Few people realize that orchids are not restricted to tropical areas but they are also found in the more temperate areas of our planet, such as Europe.

Orchid species can be found in a variety of regions, from arctic Iceland to sub-tropical Greece. About 350 species in all are known in Europe. In contrast with many tropical species, European species are terrestrial, obtaining their roothold in soil. In the Tropics orchids chiefly are epiphytes, obtaining a roothold in trees. Many tropical species produce huge, gorgeous flowers, whereas the flowers of European orchids are much more modest in size.

Venturing out in search of orchids in Europe is a pleasant pastime because many species grow in magnificent environments. Orchids are often indicators pointing to the existence of distinctive environmental conditions. Many species are very particular about the ecological environment in which they exist and only occur in places that meet all their requirements. Swamp orchids such as Dactylorhiza incarnata, for example, grow only in places where subsoil water contains sufficient lime. This explains why some species are rarer than others. An orchid species that makes very specific demands will occur in fewer areas than one that can grow in less restricted conditions.

If we make an imaginary trip across Europe, from the Netherlands down to southern Italy, most regions we travel through contain orchids. Let’s begin with the Netherlands. In this low-lying country in Western Europe, we still find extensive swamps, moist dune dips, and grasslands. In May and June, some of the terrain is tinted rose and violet by orchids of the genus Dactylorhiza. A lovely, stately species is the Dactylorhiza praetermissa. This plant can reach the height of three feet [1 m] and can contain as many as 60 blossoms. Remnants of peat moors and heather fields also are homes for orchids. In chiefly wet heather fields, large numbers of Dactylorhiza maculata can sometimes be found. In peat moors we would have to make a careful search before finding the tiny green blossoms of the Hammarbya paludosa. This small orchid grows in extremely inaccessible areas.

We travel farther, into the central mountain ranges of Germany. Here, in the midst of a wide variety of deciduous trees, several representatives of the genus Epipactis are found. While some of these grow in the deep shadows, others, such as the Epipactis muelleri, prefer the fringe of a forest. The blossoming of the Epipactis species in late summer and autumn concludes the orchid season in Europe. Located on the slopes of hills rich in lime is a particular kind of arid grassland, lime grassland, which abounds with orchids. During May and June, we might find here dozens of species, among which are the magnificent Orchis militaris and Orchis ustulata.

In the southern part of Germany, we reach the Alps. The alpine meadows are famous for their profusion of blossoms. Orchids often contribute to this environment. Some alpine meadows, such as those of the Dolomites in Italy, are dressed in purple by orchids in the month of July. A profusion of Nigritella nigra occurs here in a broad variety of colors. Nigritella gives off a strong vanilla odor, which reminds us that vanilla is procured from the fruit of a tropical orchid.

Orchids can be found at altitudes of more than ten thousand feet [3,000 m]. It is possible at that altitude to find what is probably the world’s smallest orchid, the Chamorchis alpina. The blossoms of this species measure less than one quarter of an inch [5 mm] across. Because they are green in color, these blossoms do not attract much attention. Yet, this species has its own specific place in the ecosystem of the alpine region.

Having traveled beyond the Alps, we reach the Mediterranean region of Europe. We find more species of orchids here than elsewhere in Europe, and their variety is astounding. The warmth-loving species that grow here blossom only in early spring. During the dry summer, all vegetation, including the orchid, parches, and practically no blossoming plant is to be found. It is only after the initial autumn rains that fresh green plants reappear.

Orchids react to this rainfall. At that time many species form leaves and survive the winter as a rosette. It is not until early spring that they display their gorgeous flowers. The species of the genus Ophrys are typical of Mediterranean vegetation. For pollination many of these species are dependent on male insects that mistake the flower, which resembles an insect, for a partner willing to mate. Several of the species are named after insects they resemble, such as spider orchid, fly orchid, and bumblebee orchid (Ophrys sphegodes, insectifera, and bombyliflora). Following the pseudocopulation the insect carries the pollen mass and transports it inadvertently to another flower of the same species. Pollination takes place, and the formation of seed can begin. This method of pollination is astonishingly accurate.

Among some of the Ophrys species, distinct races are known. Each is pollinated by a specific insect species. When pollinating insects of one kind are exposed to flowers of a different but similar-looking race, they refuse to pollinate them. Sometimes “mishaps” occur, and another species becomes erroneously pollinated, resulting in hybrids. Once in a while, these hybrids are able to produce fertile seed and reproduce large numbers of offspring.

Another characteristic Mediterranean genus is the tongue orchid (Serapias). These species are pollinated by insects that spend the night in a tubular cavity within the blossom. By the time the insect awakes, the pollen mass will have attached itself to the insect’s body, so that another flower will be pollinated the following night.

As we traveled across Europe, we saw many magnificent natural areas filled with orchids. Yet, many have vanished. In industrialized, densely populated, and agriculturally advanced Europe, practically every natural reserve stands exposed to a legion of threatening circumstances. Acid rain, drought, maximum cultivation of agricultural lands, tourism, and urbanization, all take their toll on orchids. Many species have become rare. In several countries some species are legally protected.

However, merely declaring that something is legally out-of-bounds does not help much. Man ought to treat the creation with respect. In this present, imperfect system of things, where respect for the Creator and his creation is lacking, we do not expect that nature will flourish. Not until God’s new system will it be possible for righteous people to enjoy the harmony of nature. (Isaiah 35:1) It is then that the many kinds of orchids will be properly appreciated for what they are.

[Pictures on page 8, 9]

On these two pages are orchids from (1) Italy, (2) the Netherlands, (3) alpine meadows, (4) lime grasslands, and (5) heather areas. (6) The butterfly orchid

Joshua’s Faith—A Victory for Children’s Rights

BY AWAKE! CORRESPONDENT IN CANADA

“IT WAS the first time the mature minor doctrine had been considered at the appeal court level. And some say the judgment sets out clear guidelines not only for doctors and hospitals in New Brunswick but also, perhaps, elsewhere in Canada.”—Canadian Medical Association Journal.

The above journal is referring to a case involving New Brunswick’s Medical Consent of Minors Act, which says that if two doctors declare a minor under 16 to be mature and that he understands his disease and its proposed treatment, he has the legal right to accept or reject medical treatment, like any adult. Concerning 15-year-old Joshua Walker, who had acute myeloid leukemia, Chief Justice W. L. Hoyt of the New Brunswick Court of Appeal wrote the following: “The evidence here is overwhelming that Joshua is sufficiently mature and that, in the circumstances, the proposed treatment is in his best interests and his continuing health and well-being. . . . It is my view that the application [to be declared a mature minor] was not necessary.” Chief Justice Hoyt in his decision also noted that Canadian common law “recognizes the doctrine of a mature minor.”

One of Joshua’s lawyers, Daniel Pole, said that the written decision of the Court of Appeal is “going to be a leading case across Canada.” Because it was an unusual case, the court sat with five judges instead of the usual three. “In landmark situations,” Pole said, “the court will sit with a full bench. It may be that they considered the decision an important one for Canada.” He suggested that the precedent-setting ruling opens the way for mature minors to act on their own behalf and that “there’s no reason for it to come up again in court. It has accomplished a great deal for other young persons.” Further stressing the extensive value of this court victory, Pole declared: “It’s a tremendous vindication of the rights of children, of young men and young women who have the capacity to decide what they want to have done with their bodies.”

Under the heading “A ‘Minor’ Victory,” an editorial in the Telegraph Journal said: “The New Brunswick Court of Appeal’s decision that 15-year-old Joshua Walker has the right to consent to or refuse medical treatment is a victory not just for Jehovah’s Witnesses, but for us all. . . . Sometimes the decisions an individual makes may seem too hard for society to bear, especially hard if the life or death of a young person is at stake. But even harder to bear would be a society that routinely violates the bodies and souls of its citizens. Joshua Walker has done his part to keep us safe from that.”

A Valiant Doctor

From the start of his illness, Joshua was diagnosed and treated by Dr. Mary Frances Scully, a specialist in hematology and pediatric oncology. Her work includes the diagnosis and treatment of cancer in children.

The usual treatment for Joshua’s type of leukemia is chemotherapy and blood transfusions. Joshua’s family are Jehovah’s Witnesses and, for Scriptural reasons, reject blood transfusions. The divine decree to Christians is: “Abstain from things polluted by idols and from fornication and from what is strangled and from blood.” (Acts 15:20, 29) Joshua, from the beginning, took a determined position to adhere to Jehovah’s law to ‘abstain from blood.’

Dr. Scully noted on the hospital chart that Joshua was “very adamant” about this. Dr. Dolan, head of the hospital’s adult oncology wing, talked personally to Joshua. Both he and Dr. Scully concluded that Joshua was a mature minor. The Walkers’ family doctor, Dr. Lordon, also viewed Joshua as a mature minor. With, not just the required two, but three doctors declaring Joshua a mature minor, he was more than qualified under the Medical Consent of Minors Act to choose his treatment. No litigation should have been needed.

Unfortunately, the situation did not stay that way. The hospital, already viewing Joshua as a mature minor, wanted this established by a judicial decision in order to protect itself. The outcome of a lengthy and trying court investigation was that the judge ruled that Joshua did not have the right to refuse treatment. This decision was immediately appealed to a higher court with the results mentioned in our opening paragraph.

Throughout Joshua’s ordeal Dr. Scully stuck to her refusal to administer blood to Joshua under any circumstances unless he changed his mind and consented. Reporting on her position, the Canadian Medical Association Journal quoted her as saying: “My biggest concern was that Joshua or his family would be so upset that they would just leave without any options.” The article continues: “Other physicians later told her that they would have refused to treat [Joshua] altogether. However, that thought never crossed her mind.” Her reasonable and noble stand was very encouraging to Joshua and his family.

Joshua Loved Life and Touched Hearts

Joshua Walker loved life; he didn’t want to die. His family didn’t want him to die. In many lands Jehovah’s Witnesses, his spiritual brothers, hoped that he might recover and live. Joshua was willing to accept his situation; his faith in God convinced him he would come back in the resurrection. He found support in Jesus’ words: “The hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear [the] voice [of the Son of God] and come out.”—John 5:25, 28, 29.

Support came to him from many places. The Evening Times Globe said: “Both parents emphasized yesterday that they’re not abandoning Joshua. They brought him to the Regional Hospital to get the best medical treatment possible, without blood. ‘We would have left him at home if we wanted him to die,’ the father argued. ‘We don’t want Josh to die. We’re doing everything medically to keep him alive. And that’s what anyone would do for any of their loved ones. We’re not here to watch him die. We’re here to get that boy better, so he can walk out and go back to his trains, go back to the Kingdom Hall, to his meetings and his service, and maybe go back to some basketball.’”

His family were certainly there for him, literally. One newspaper noted this: “While one of them took a turn at keeping Joshua company, other family members huddled nearby in a small quiet-room, some of them still in gowns and with loosened masks hanging from their necks. It’s the same scene that has been unfolding there since March 31, when Joshua first came to [the] hospital. In three weeks, Joshua has not spent a moment when there wasn’t a gowned and masked family member in his hospital room. . . . Often, both parents stay overnight with Joshua, sleeping in a bed next to their youngest son. [The mother said,] ‘We’re needed here, and I’d do anything for Josh, for any of my children.’ ‘I’d sit out in the parking lot if I had to,’ said the father.”

Confidences and Conversations

In the evenings when his mother or father was with him, there were intimate conversations. One night he said: “Mom, please write this down. All you young ones, please draw close to Jehovah so that if anything should ever happen to you, you will keep your integrity to him. When I am better I promise to do more in declaring Jehovah’s name. You young ones in good health, do more if you can.”

One night when Josh was in the hospital, he said: “Mom, a lot of times when you go to the bathroom or go to get Dad, the doctors come in and say: ‘Josh, you need a blood transfusion. Without it you will die. We want to help you.’ ‘Then please respect my wishes about blood,’ I would reply. I told one doctor who tried to get me to take blood: ‘You may think I’m crazy, but I have all my thinking abilities. I just want to live by Jehovah’s law on blood. He knows what is best for us. The best thing for me is to respect the sanctity of life, and if I die I will live again.’”

One doctor, the chief of pediatrics, Dr. Garry, said to Josh’s parents: “Be proud of Josh. He has faith that I have never seen demonstrated before in my life.” He hugged them both and said: “You are a courageous family.”

One evening in the hospital, after some bad news had been given the family concerning Josh’s condition, his brother Jeff and his sister, Janice, were with him. Jeff was crying, and Josh said: “Jeffrey, you stop crying. I’m a winner either way. Don’t worry about me.” His point was that if he recovered from his illness, he was a winner; if he didn’t and he died and was resurrected into the Paradise earth, then he was undoubtedly a winner!

When there was talk of a bone-marrow transplant, his brother Jerry was the first to offer his bone marrow. At one time, his brothers John and Joe used to kiss Josh good night. When he turned 13, he got his mother to tell them he was too old for that. But during his illness, although he was 15, when they started it again and hugged and prayed with him, Josh told his mother it was OK now—it showed they still loved him.

Community Support

Jerry and Sandra, Joshua’s parents, say the support from the community has been overwhelming and widespread. In May 1994, one newspaper said: “Joshua receives, on average, 20 cards a day. They have even come from as far away as Romania and Mexico. He has also received phone calls and faxes at the hospital from as far away as Alberta and Washington. In addition to all that, he was sent about half-a-dozen fruit baskets [and] dozens of flowers. . . . When his vital statistics . . . improved, the nurses organized a celebratory Hawaiian luau in his honor. They made grass skirts out of garbage bags and danced the hula around his room. ‘He was laughing so hard, I thought he was going to cry,’ said Sandra.’”

Josh’s father, Jerry, added some tidbits: “We could not let all the children visitors from school come into the hospital room. So the principal came and got reports on Josh. The students sent Josh a 1,000-piece puzzle of a railroad scene—Josh is crazy about trains. The police wanted to put on a benefit dance for him to help on certain costs, but we didn’t give them a go-ahead on that. The social-studies class at school was talking about people’s rights, and each individual in that class wrote Josh about giving them a talk on that, giving them his feelings.”

During all this time, the newspaper coverage was phenomenal—stories with pictures on the front pages of several dailies. School principals relayed bulletins on Joshua’s health. He received invitations to speak when he recovered, and schools held sessions on the details of the case.

“Did you notice much of a change in Joshua when this disease hit him and threatened his life?” Awake! asked. Josh’s father, Jerry, commented: “There was a tremendous change in him, and almost overnight. Josh had previously been an easygoing, carefree young boy, sometimes needing the counsel that 15-year-olds typically need. I have sat and looked at him in awe. It’s almost as though he grew up overnight. One evening his lawyer wanted to talk to him, and Joshua asked me to leave. One day he was the class clown; the next he was mature, talking to lawyers and judges. A crisis can bring up from the depths of the heart things never suspected of being there.”

Dr. Scully gave a beautiful tribute to Joshua. She said to his mother: “He of all the patients I have ever treated is the friendliest, most considerate, most polite, and most compassionate person I have ever met. He is very courageous and a young man we will never forget. He is a very lovable person. You can be very proud of him, Mrs. Walker.”

In a few weeks, the leukemia changed. The brief periods of remission were gone; the cancer was back. Dr. Scully told the family that Josh might not live much longer—weeks maybe, a few months possibly. The next evening, with Joshua’s parents present, Dr. Scully told Joshua that the cancer was back and that it might also be in the stomach by then. Joshua said: “Oh, no, it’s not back—are you sure?” Dr. Scully said: “Josh, your blood work is not too good.” Soon thereafter Jerry left the room, then Dr. Scully.

Two Aching Hearts Finding Peace

Josh’s mother describes the scene: “There was silence. I pulled a chair up to his bedside and took his hand. I asked him if he was worried or depressed because of what the doctor had said. He replied: ‘I hadn’t thought about dying and leaving so soon. But, Mom, don’t worry. I am not afraid to die, nor am I afraid of death. Will you be with me when I die? I don’t want to die alone.’ I started to cry and hugged him. He cried, too, and said: ‘Mom, I’m in Jehovah’s hands.’ Then, ‘I want all of you to stay in the truth so you can welcome me back in the resurrection. I can tell you this, Mom, with all certainty: I know Jehovah is definitely going to bring me back in the resurrection. He has read my heart, and I truly love him.’

“I started to cry again. I told him how much we loved him and, for the 16 years that we have had him here, how proud we have been of him—and most of all, how Jehovah was smiling down on him with approval. He said, ‘Mom, I know.’ I said to him: ‘Josh, as much as I hate to let go, it would only be selfish on our part to want you to stay.’ He said: ‘Mom, I know, and really I am kind of tired of fighting.’”

The Legal Ramifications

Daniel Pole, one of Joshua’s lawyers, along with other attorneys, dealt with the questions raised by the case of Joshua Walker. What is a mature minor under the Medical Consent of Minors Act? Does consent to treatment include the right to refuse it? Is the argument of parens patriae, in which the government acts for someone who cannot competently act for himself, applicable here? Does the individual have the legal right to determine what can be done to his own body? Is his bodily integrity inviolate? And what about Canadian common law? Is it applicable in this case? Finally, did Joshua Walker’s case need to come into court in the first place?

Were these questions settled by the written decision of the Court of Appeal? Yes, they were. Upon the conclusion of the hearing, the five-judge court recessed and thereafter returned to the courtroom and gave orally the unanimous decision of the justices, as follows:

“The appeal is allowed. The decision of Turnbull, J. [the lower court judge] is set aside. Joshua Walker is declared to be a mature minor under the provisions of the Medical Consent of Minors Act and the consent of his parents with respect to his treatment is not required. The question of costs will be dealt with in our written reasons.”

Is Canadian common law applicable to this case? Yes. The printed account of the hearing states: “In Canada, the common law recognizes the doctrine of a mature minor, namely, one who is capable of understanding the nature and consequences of the proposed treatment. . . . New Brunswick has codified the common law to the extent that it is expressed in the Medical Consent of Minors Act.”

Finally, did Joshua’s case have to come into court to make him legally able to refuse blood transfusions? No. “As long as the provisions of the Act are complied with, there is no need to make such an application.”

Chief Justice W. L. Hoyt concluded: “The application was made in good faith and with an abundance of caution. Nevertheless, the result of the application was to involve Joshua and his family in unwanted litigation. For that reason, in my view, they are entitled to costs from the Hospital.”

Joshua died October 4, 1994.

[Blurb on page 12]

“The judgment sets out clear guidelines . . . for doctors and hospitals.”—Canadian Medical Association Journal

[Blurb on page 13]

“A victory not just for Jehovah’s Witnesses, but for us all.”—Telegraph Journal

[Blurb on page 14]

“I just want to live by Jehovah’s law on blood.”—Joshua Walker

[Blurb on page 15]

“He has faith that I have never seen demonstrated before in my life.”—Dr. Garry

The Megapode and Its Scrambled Eggs

BY AWAKE! CORRESPONDENT IN THE SOLOMON ISLANDS

ABOUT two hours by canoe out of Honiara, the capital of the Solomon Islands on Guadalcanal, is the island of Savo, famous for its active volcano and the megapode bird, also known as the Australian scrub fowl. The natives at times utilize hot rocks and jets of steam hissing from cracks in the ground to cook their food and to heat their water supply. The megapode bird also makes clever use of this natural resource.

Though considerably smaller than the common chicken, the megapode bird looks similar, with heavy body, short rounded wings and large, strong, four-toed feet. The bill is short and slightly curved downward. The megapode’s flight is fast but short-lived.

The megapode (meaning “large feet”) bird belongs to the same order of birds as the common chicken—Galliformes. It is an incubator bird that buries its eggs in piles of rotting vegetation to hatch them in constant 90-degree-Fahrenheit [32°C] heat. On this island the megapodes have a different incubator. What could be better than the volcanically heated sand on the beaches of Savo?

Acres of flat, level beach have been carefully fenced off by the natives with a wall of strong palm leaves. These are the megapode “fields.” Inside, the area resembles a carefully planted orchard. Small trees are set in orderly rows, apparently to provide a more reassuring environment for the visiting birds. Over this whole area, the sand is pitted with small craters about two feet [60 cm] in diameter, evidence of the visits at dawn and dusk by these strange wild birds that come to dig a narrow hole as much as three feet [90 cm] deep in which to lay and bury their eggs.

And what eggs! They average from three [8 cm] to three and a half inches [9 cm] long and about two and a half inches [6 cm] in diameter, an amazing size for such a small bird. Upon hatching, the fully feathered chick digs its way to the surface and runs away on its own. Within 24 hours it can fly.

Each day the villagers come down to the “fields” to dig up the eggs, which seem to be a major part of the islanders’ staple diet. It is amazing how they prepare their light, fluffy scrambled eggs. The megapode eggs are skillfully cracked open on the pointed shaft of a section of green bamboo stem and then poured into the stem’s hollow interior. The bamboo stem, now full of eggs, is carefully laid at a 45-degree angle in the hot embers of the cooking fire. Soon the eggs are bubbling away and mixing with the juices from the hot green bamboo. When ready, the bamboo is split open, and one has sausage-shaped scrambled eggs with a unique delightful taste. Come to the Solomon Islands, and try it sometime!

How Can I Improve My Wardrobe?

Young People Ask . . .

How Can I Improve My Wardrobe?

ROBERT is desperate! He has to attend his sister’s wedding and has absolutely nothing to wear. Not that Robert is in what the Bible calls “a naked state.” (James 2:15) But Robert’s everyday outfits simply will not suffice for this formal occasion.

Young Angela, though, has three social engagements to attend, each requiring a different style of dress. Unlike Robert, however, she has little trouble finding something appropriate to wear. Not that Angela is wealthy. She has simply built up a basic wardrobe that allows her to be well dressed in a variety of situations.

An article in Woman’s Day magazine said: “Clothes are important. They can go a long way toward making you feel really good about yourself.” What you wear also has a large impact on how others view and treat you. With good reason, then, the Bible urges us to be adorned with “well-arranged dress, with modesty and soundness of mind.” (1 Timothy 2:9) If you are a Christian, having a suitable wardrobe should be important to you.

Could it be, though, that in spite of having a closet chock-full of clothing, you sometimes feel that you have nothing to wear? What is the problem, and how can you correct matters?

The High Cost of Fashion

Often the problem isn’t money but the result of being enslaved to the world’s ever-changing styles and fashions. The book Youthtrends says that “the business world realizes how much money young people will spend for clothing labels.” Driven by a greed for cash, the clothing industry uses catchy magazine and TV ads to entice youths to spend—and spend, and spend! Reinforced by peer pressure, the strategy works. Laments a teacher: “Everybody is spending huge amounts on clothes and the kids who can’t afford it . . . are taking jobs after school just to buy designer jeans.”

Being a slave to fashion costs money and may leave you with little to invest in more practical garments that you really need. Romans 12:2 thus gives good advice when it says: “Quit being fashioned after this system of things, but be transformed by making your mind over.” True, standing out as different is not always easy. Sixteen-year-old Charlene admits: “The kids in school look at you funny when you don’t dress like them.” When you let others dictate what you do, however, you become their slave. (Compare Romans 6:16.) A young woman named Johanna admits: “I get irritated because I feel as if I’m always dressing for someone else.”

Is this always wise? Take, for example, the street-gang, hip-hop, and “grunge” clothing styles. Many wear these styles simply because they are popular. Yet, they virtually scream anger and rebellion. Could wearing them give others the wrong impression about you? (John 15:19; compare 2 Corinthians 6:4.) Not to mention that looking like a gang member could get you killed. Some U.S. schools have therefore banned the wearing of gang styles. The lesson? It makes little sense to let your peers choose your wardrobe, much less rule your life. Instead of being anxious about what will please them, “keep on making sure of what is acceptable to the Lord”!—Ephesians 5:10.

Considering Your Needs

Once you have freed yourself from the tyranny of fad and fashion, you can begin building a wardrobe that meets your actual needs. For example, much of your time is spent in school. If your school requires a uniform or follows a strict dress code, your choices will be limited. But in many schools choice is permitted, and the casual look is the norm.

In such a situation, it may not be wise to make yourself conspicuous by sporting a jacket and tie or a dressy skirt. You would want to look casual without looking faddish or sloppy. A teenage girl named Millie did so. While in school she avoided fashion extremes. If your situation is similar, you may likewise need a few casual slacks, shirts, or blouses in your wardrobe. If money is tight, having just a few of these items may suffice.—Compare Luke 10:42.

Keeping your school wardrobe a modest size may leave you with enough cash to care for other needs. Do you, for example, have an outside job or household chores to perform? Then you have a need for some durable, sturdy garments. Appropriate clothing may also be needed for sports and other play activities. Although it may be in vogue to wear designer shorts, tops, and sneakers, you will find that some less expensive garments are equally serviceable.

If you are one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, you will also want to consider your need for suitable clothes to wear to Christian meetings, inasmuch as casual clothing is inappropriate for worship. In lands where Western-style garb is worn, young men usually wear dress slacks, a dress shirt, a tie, and a jacket. Young women usually wear a dress or a skirt and blouse. Similar apparel is also worn in the door-to-door preaching work. How many of such outfits you can buy will depend on your budget. Fortunately, your clothes need not be plentiful or the latest in fashion. They should be neat and clean.

Jesus Christ attended a wedding, and you may also be called upon to attend certain social events. (John 2:1, 2) If dressing up for such events is customary, then it makes sense to have some suitable garments on hand. “I’ve been in situations where I was not dressed for the occasion, and it was not fun,” admits Johanna. Owning at least one dressy garment can also spare you the pressure and expense of last-minute shopping.

Taking Inventory

You might take what writer Jean Patton calls a closet audit. (Color to Color) Sort through your clothes, including items in storage. You may discover garments that you had forgotten about. At the same time, you can discard items that you have outgrown or that you no longer like.

Next, make an inventory list, perhaps organizing it into major pieces (coats, suits, dresses, blazers, sport jackets), support pieces (blouses, sweaters, dress shirts), and accessories (scarves, belts, gloves, hats, shoes, handbags, neckties). Such a list helps highlight what items you may need to round out your wardrobe.

Smart Shopping

In some lands new clothing is a luxury. Youths take pains to care for what clothes they do own and to keep them reasonably neat and clean. What, though, if you are in a position to buy some new clothes? In her book Working Wardrobe, Janet Wallach states that “a woman can save time and money if she’s bought her clothes by plan and design.” That’s true for young men too. Likely, you have a limited budget, so you need to count the cost of anything you purchase. (Compare Luke 14:28.) That may mean pruning your shopping list, sticking to high-priority items. A good rule of thumb is to spend the most money on the clothes you will wear the most.

The Better Business Bureau A to Z Buying Guide gives this advice: “Build your wardrobe around one basic color group, such as navy and gray or maroon and black. Select major clothing items in those colors, and save bright complementary hues for shirts, blouses, and accessories.” Neutral-colored clothing will stay in style longer. By sticking to basic colors, you can more easily experiment and create new outfits.

Proverbs 14:15 says: “The shrewd one considers his steps,” and having a definite plan for your purchases can help you avoid costly impulse buying. “I always take my shopping list with me when I shop,” says one young woman. Remember, too, that in the long run, it pays to go for quality, not quantity. A quality garment can last for years. “I still have sweaters that I wore as a teenager,” says one young woman. However, a brand name is not necessarily a guarantee of quality, which is best determined by carefully examining the garment itself.a

Be on the conservative side when it comes to style. A classic dress or man’s suit will almost always be in style. Trendy styles quickly fade in popularity. In her book Conservative Chic, Amelia Fatt notes: “Conservative clothing is easier to accessorize, easier to add to next year, a better investment.”

Don’t forget that your parents have years of experience in buying clothing. Some of your tastes may be a generation apart, but you may agree on the basics more than you realize. “My mother helped me and my sister to develop good taste in clothing,” recalls Angela. With time and patience, you too may be able to develop a suitable, workable wardrobe. Perhaps you will never again have to say, ‘I have nothing to wear!’

[Footnotes]

See “Young People Ask . . . What’s the Secret of Choosing the Right Clothes?” in our October 8, 1989, issue.

[Picture on page 19]

First take inventory of what you already own

Who Will Evangelize Britain?

BY AWAKE! CORRESPONDENT IN BRITAIN

THE lifeblood of Britain’s churches is ebbing away at the rate of nearly 1,500 members a week, reports The UK Christian Handbook. The young are abandoning the church, proclaims The Times, “because they find it boring and lonely.”

While Anglican churches close at the rate of one a week, there are “thousands of people in search of meaning and purpose to their lives,” admits the Church of England’s Church Times.

Faced with this crisis, Britain’s churches united in 1990 behind a “Decade of Evangelism.” The Scotsman said the ’90’s “may well be the decade in which evangelism is claimed back by the traditional, established Churches in an attempt to swell sadly-depleted memberships and to turn the tide on secularism.”

A fond hope—but can it be realized? What has happened in the past few years?

An Unsure Foundation

Church of England clergymen generated little enthusiasm for the “Decade of Evangelism” at their 1989 General Synod. The chairman of the Church Union’s Mission and Renewal Committee, for example, stressed: “Preparation is all-important,” but he cautiously added: “It may, in some cases, take all the decade.”

Bishop Gavin Reid predicted: “It will be a campaign of embarrassment after five years.”

Undeterred, Anglicans soon formed a united front with the Roman Catholics, who had established their own “Decade of Evangelisation” in 1988. Most other denominations had some misgivings. “I must confess to feeling uneasy about the Decade of Evangelism. It is a high-sounding title, but what does it mean?” asked Paul Hulme, minister of the prestigious Wesley’s Chapel on City Road, London. “What are we supposed to be doing that we are not doing already?”

Defining Objectives

To evangelize is to preach the gospel, or good news, to convert hearers to Christianity—a far cry from what many church leaders wish to see. “It is not our business to convert people to Christianity,” proclaimed Dr. Newbigin of the United Reformed Church. “That is God’s business.” What lies behind such an extraordinary statement? The growing tension of Britain’s multiracial society with its non-Christian, ethnic religions. Consider the following:

“The Decade of Evangelism may fizzle out like other decades,” said Anglican rector Neil Richardson, “but while it lumbers on it is a distraction from a pressing issue facing the churches and everyone else: the potentially explosive interface of religions in all our cities.” Pinpointing the problem, he continued: “Relationships between sections of the religious community need to be based on the firm confidence that nobody is seeking to convert or proselytise.”

Well aware of this “potentially explosive” situation, George Carey, Archbishop of Canterbury, declared “Decade of Evangelism” to be a “clumsy title” because Muslim and Jewish leaders felt they were being targeted by “hard-line evangelicals.” “It is a mistake,” he said later, “to say as some do that the first task of the church is to evangelise.”

Bishop Michael Marshall, on the other hand, maintains that the basic need is for the Church of England to be “converted into the Church of God in England,” with Muslims and others being brought into the Christian fold. “The call to win Islam for Christ is on the agenda,” he proclaimed, warning that such an approach “will necessarily involve a decade of confrontation.”

What of the Jews? “True Evangelism Must Include the Jews,” headlined the Church Times. But David Sheppard, bishop of Liverpool, strongly disagreed. “The prime target of the Decade of Evangelism must be those who have lapsed from faith or never known what it is to believe in God,” he said. Is this possible? Neil Richardson, writing under The Guardian’s headline “Evangelism’s Diminishing Returns,” maintains: “Every person [in Britain] has had a fair chance to assess the claims of Christianity. It is clear that the majority have decided it is not for them.”

Are Britain’s churches equipped to evangelize such a secular community with its multiplicity of faiths and ethnic cultures?

The Challenge

Former archbishop Dr. Runcie declared: “Our officers in evangelism are the bishops and clergy, our missionaries are the laity.” Veteran evangelist Gilbert W. Kirby said: “Every christian should be in a position to explain to another the fundamentals of the faith. Every christian should be taught how to lead another to Christ. . . . An instructed church-membership should be our aim. . . . It is useless to tell people to evangelise without showing them how.” In other words, the bishops and clergy must set the lead in showing their flocks how to evangelize.

Speaking frankly in the inaugural BBC “Priestland Memorial Lecture,” radio broadcaster Brian Redhead said: “Heads snug beneath mitres should face up to the fact that they have lost the power to entertain the non-committed . . . They must place greater emphasis on the art of preaching.” And where should this be done?

At the turn of this century, William Wand, later to become Bishop of London, received his early training in Lancaster, England, when pastoral visiting was the norm. “I think that forty was the record number of doors at which I knocked in the course of any one afternoon,” he wrote later. “The Vicar was also very alive to the needs of the minority of people who never seemed to come to church. He was anxious to make what is now called a ‘break-through’ against this apathy and indifference.”

For any clergyman to make such personal contact in Britain today would indeed be a rare exception! Too late Britain’s churches are realizing there is no substitute for evangelizing people in their homes, in the way Jesus and his disciples did.

“Only a truly dedicated man can win others to God,” observes Evangelism and the Laity. “‘Do the work of an evangelist’ [2 Timothy 4:5] . . . is a command which must be obeyed in some way by every Christian if the Church is to fulfil its purpose in our generation.”

“Good News”—Its Source

John Taylor, general secretary of the Division of Ministries of the Methodist Church, wrote to The Times of London about “our duty to share the good news.” He said: “The church must therefore find new and more effective ways of nurturing and teaching its own members. Even in the church there is an appalling ignorance of the Christian scriptures.” To what has this ignorance led its members?

“A number of leading younger Evangelicals . . . insist that Christian discipleship demands specific kinds of social and political action,” explains Rachel Tingle in Another Gospel?—An Account of the Growing Involvement of the Anglican Church in Secular Politics. This “Kingdom Theology,” as it is termed, asserts that the Kingdom of God is extended to earth when peace, justice, and “social righteousness” are established by political means. This is, of course, “Liberation Theology,” or the old “Christian Socialism” in a modern guise.

How does such thinking square with Jesus’ own statement: “My kingdom is no part of this world. . . . My kingdom is not from this source”? (John 18:36) Or with the words of an earlier prophet: “In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be brought to ruin. And the kingdom itself will not be passed on to any other people. It will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, and it itself will stand to times indefinite”?—Daniel 2:44.

Note that this Kingdom is established by God’s hands—not man’s. Liberation from war, from injustice, and even from death itself will come from Jehovah through his appointed King, Jesus Christ—not from man. That really is good news that needs to be proclaimed!—Revelation 21:3, 4.

Today, Jehovah’s Witnesses, numbering nearly 130,000 in Britain alone, share that same conviction. Drawn out of all national groups and religious faiths, they stand united as Christians. They are well-trained evangelizers eager to share the good news with all who will hear. To this end they use every means available, and many are benefiting from their effective ministry.

[Box on page 23]

Britain’s Evangelists

The following extract is taken from a British Roman Catholic weekly newspaper, the Catholic Herald, October 22, 1993, page 8.

“Whatever happened to the decade of evangelisation? What indeed! Two years ago it was the flavour of the month and hardly a week without mention in the press. Today? A deafening silence. . . .

“Where is the urgency conveyed by Jesus as He despatched His disciples to evangelise the surrounding villages? Or by St Paul: ‘Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel! (1 Co 9:16).’

“There is also the problem that many Catholics do not appreciate that evangelisation is not an option but a mandate ordained by Christ Himself: ‘Go, make disciples of all nations’ [Matthew 28:19]. . . .

“How many Catholics are sufficiently conversant with their faith to confront the sceptical? . . . How extraordinary it is that, God’s Son having come to earth, so few of us bother to study what He said. . . .

“Now I hold no brief for [Jehovah’s] Witnesses. . . . But spare a thought for the other side of the coin. Their moral stance, based on a belief in God’s absolute standards, is unimpeachable. More to the present point, each Witness devoted the equivalent of something like three evenings a week to doctrine, systematic Bible study, and practical day to day Christian living, often in one another’s homes.

“Not only that, but each Witness is also taught that, by his very calling, he is necessarily a missionary. He is taught the marketing tools needed to project his message. Door knocking, going out in twos, is a central feature of his life. Witnesses are also zealous in caring for the poor and needy.

“In short, . . . it is hard not to be reminded of the early Church as depicted in the acts of the Apostles. And the proof of the pudding lies in the eating. Their growth has been explosive. Explicit proclamation can deliver!”

Rice—Do You Prefer It Boiled or Raw?

BY AWAKE! CORRESPONDENT IN INDIA

‘DO YOU eat rice boiled or raw?’ That is a question that you as a guest in an Indian home may be asked. In India about 60 percent of the rice eaten is parboiled (cooked partially by boiling). But it may surprise you to know that in Western nations, almost everyone eats what Indians call raw rice!

All of this may not sound so strange when you realize that we are talking, not about the way of preparing rice for the table, but about the method that the Indians use in processing the rice grain as it is being harvested. So, what is done in such processing, and why? A closer look at rice and its preparation as a food grain will provide enlightening answers.

Staple of Millions

Archaeological finds and ancient records indicate that rice was cultivated in India and China as far back as the third millennium B.C.E. The ancient inhabitants of India called it dhanya, or “sustainer of the human race.” It is still an appropriate name because more people live on rice than on any other single food crop. Most of these people live in Asia, where, according to one source, over 600 million people obtain half their daily food calories from rice alone and where over 90 percent of the world’s rice is produced and consumed.

The wet, tropical Ganges delta is one of the world’s leading rice-producing areas. Abundant rainfall and warm temperatures, as well as a plentiful supply of labor, make this an ideal place for rice cultivation. Let us accept the invitation of our village-dwelling friends in this region and view firsthand the harvesting and processing of rice.

Harvesting the Paddies

Our bus takes us to Jaidercote in West Bengal, and we continue our journey to the interior by tricycle ricksha. Soon we see vigorous activity in the fields. No sight of combine harvesters here! Rather, fathers, sons, uncles, and brothers are busy in the rice paddies, deftly cutting a handful of stalks at a time with small sickles. One of the reapers, sensing our camera, quickly finishes tying his sheaf with a strand of straw and holds it aloft in an action pose. We laugh at how camera conscious the village people have become.

…

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Awake!, January 22, 1995