The Mystery of Wrong Habits Nona L. Brooks
Mysteries, 1924.
Divine Science Federation Int’l
3rd Printing, 1977.
Copyright Material
Reprinted by Permission
Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.
–Ecclesiastes 7:29
Strangest of all inventions is the belief that man may be in subjection to certain wrong habits; and that he can become so enslaved to drink and drugs, or to some other wrong habit that he loses the uprightness of manhood and finds himself lower than the animals. That man should yield himself to such degradations is the greatest of all mysteries.
What shall we think about it? Just this–that in the light of Omnipresence man is in truth free from all bondage to human opinion–the many inventions–but that as a child of God made in His image and likeness, man may regain and maintain his uprightness. As soon as man knows his liberty as a son of God and stands true to his divine heritage, he will find his release from every conception that has held him in subjection to race belief. Glorious liberty! Joyous freedom! And it belongs to us as our birthright from God.
Can this be proved? It has been proved over and over again. Thousands, perhaps millions, are, with head erect, walking uprightly as God made them; all because of their knowledge of Truth. Here are a few demonstrations of this kind that I have seen. About two months after we had studied this Truth, a man came to the house to tune our piano. My sister, in talking with him, learned that he was a slave to the tobacco habit and, feeling that it was making havoc of his health, longed to overcome it, but thought that he had not the strength of character to do so. My sister told him a little about her new outlook upon life and asked if he wished her to help him to break the habit. He was grateful. We did not see him again for some weeks, but one day he came in to thank Sister for the great help that she had given him. The desire for tobacco had quietly slipped away, and he had not desired any for weeks. I have known a number of such cases.
One splendid man had lost out on account of drink. He longed to stop but could not. He was induced to come to one of our courses of lessons, and there he learned the power of realizing God as an all-powerful help in every need. Years afterwards he told me of the joy that had come to him when, through his own faith, he was healed, and never since had he wanted to take liquor in any form.
One of the most interesting cases I know is that of a steady drinker who went to a practitioner for help in freeing himself from his thraldom. After she had given the treatment, he said to her, “I always begin my drinking for the day by taking beer at a luncheon. I must not do that today, must I?” He told that the burden ahead of him was heavy upon him. To his surprise the practitioner replied, “Do not fight the desire for liquor. If you wish it, take it; but I am quite certain that you will not wish it much longer.” A great weight was lifted from him as he went away with the thought, “I can have my beer if I wish it.” And such a thing as his not wishing it did not enter his head. At lunch time he ordered his bottle of beer with his luncheon. He felt particularly well and happy and ate his meal with relish. He was pushing his chair back from the table, about to leave, when he noticed the untouched bottle of beer. He had forgotten it. Now he did not wish it, and from then on he had no desire and had never tasted a drop from that time. Was not that a wise practitioner? She caught from him the fear of the struggle ahead of him; he had been through it before, and he dreaded the days ahead. She, with faith in God’s presence and certain of His Spirit in the man, was not afraid to trust, and by her quiet attitude of certainty dissolved all resistance in him. She loosed him and let him go, keeping herself positive in the consciousness of God’s Allness.
One may have help from others, or through one’s own study and endeavor, he may overcome any wrong habit and be the man that he is. By nature he is Divine. How is it done? Through the knowledge and practice of Omnipresence. Here are the steps to attainment: first, make yourself certain of God’s universal presence. From every point of view this fundamental teaching of Divine Science is reasonable. Natural scientists after years of earnest seeking say there is one substance, one life, one intelligence, found throughout the universe. Unity is their great word. Philosophers asking the why of things find monism (oneness) the only reasonable interpretation of the universe.
Religion with spiritual insight declares, “There is one God and Father of all, above all, through all, and in you all.” “For in him we live and move and have our being.” “For of him and through him and to him are all things.” “Have we not all one Father? Hath not one God created us?” “Behold I fill heaven and earth,” saith the Lord.
The first step in our freedom from bondage is to know God. The second step in our overcoming is to live by this truth of Omnipresence, to bring our thoughts up to its standard in integrity, love, life, health, and power. This means watchfulness, exceeding watchfulness at first, until the habit of right thinking is established. We must also keep our attitude always sweet, true, and kind, and faith-imbued–serving wherever opportunity affords.
Thoughts and deed combined, when based upon the foundation principle of the universe–conscious unity with God and with our fellow men–are invincible; all-powerful in cleansing us from false beliefs and wrong habits, and in blessing those with whom we come in contact day by day. First to know, then to do are the laws of release.
The mystery? Yes, it is a mystery that man brought forth by Divine Power, endowed with God-Being and, therefore, Godlike in nature, infinite in potentiality, should conceive in his thoughts that which is untrue, ungodlike; but so he has done, and the point with us now is not to waste time wondering over this phenomenon, but to know God and to translate this knowledge into thought and action. Thus will the mystery disappear–“Behold, I have considered the place thereof and it is no more.”
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