|
A
Noxious Tree
The
black walnut tree has a peculiar quality that affects the
soil about its roots with a poisonous substance very
unfavorable to the growth of many kinds of vegetation.
Grass may grow luxuriously under it, but many other things
shrivel and die.
There is a something in many lives that corresponds to the
black walnut tree. In its baneful influence many of the
good things of life cannot develop.
This tree is a noxious tree. It grows in the land of
unbelief. It is found nowhere else. It is the worry tree.
Many lives are cursed with this tree. It is one of their
most prominent characteristics. It spreads its shadow over
everything. It shuts out the sunlight. It poisons the
soil. It draws up into itself the resources of the soul as
a natural tree draws water from the soil, leaving
spiritual faculties and powers parched and impoverished;
it prevents their proper development and fruition.
Worry is one of the worst things that comes into a life.
Perhaps only sin is worse; worry may even become sinful.
It is a form of fear. Fear, worry, anxiety, foreboding,
are all the same in effect and will all be treated
together. The worry tree does not grow in the land of
faith. But in the land of unbelief and questioning it
spreads its great roots of doubt deeply into the soil.
The results of worry are too numerous to be recounted in
full.
One result is that wherever worry is given place it stops
the song of joy. We cannot be glad when we worry. We
cannot be free and happy. The moment we worry over a thing
peace, joy, satisfaction, comfort, all vanish. The sun
goes behind a cloud. A chill wind blows upon us. There are
many people who make themselves utterly wretched through
worry. Its effects are not merely spiritual. The whole
being is poisoned by it. Perhaps it would be well to
consider some of the effects worry produces. If we know
those effects it may cause us to avoid that which produces
these effects.
We note first the physical effects. There are certain
glands located in various portions of the body that
control the bodily functions. Some of these glands are
excited to action by fear. They secrete a powerful
substance that is poured into the blood-stream and
produces immediate effects. It is this that causes one to
run away from danger or to be able to expend much greater
energy than at any other time. A good purpose is served by
these glands, but when they are overstimulated by fear,
worry, anxiety, or any other emotion they produce too
great an effect upon the nerves. This tends to make one
nervous and this in turn reacts to produce fear and worry.
This action and reaction continued, repeated over and
over, breaks down the nerves. A great many nervous people
are what they are simply because they have given way to
worry. It upsets the whole course of nature. Many physical
disorders are the direct result of worry. A few quotations
from medical authorities may help to make this plain.
Doctor McCoy says, "The mind can have a powerful
stimulating effect toward either health or disease. When
the mind is properly used and controlled health may be
maintained under many adverse conditions, but when the
mind is torn by conflicting, destructive emotions it kills
the very cells it is supposed to guard over and
control." Again he says, "You must realize how
important the mind is as a factor in the production of
many chronic disorders. Sometimes this process is so
insidious as to be unrecognized except by the closest
attention of a skilled diagnostician. In my practice I
have seen a number of cases of paralysis which were
induced by slight injury associated with fear. Altho these
patients had been to many different doctors and undergone
many different kinds of treatments they were not cured
until this fear factor was recognized and then the cure
took place almost instantly."
Doctor Copeland, late health commissioner of New York
City, says, "Worry has pronounced effect upon the
organisms. If your hair is inclined to be oily you will
observe that no matter how frequently you scrub it, it
grows oily very quickly if you are worried." Again he
says of the effect of worry, "The digestion is upset
because the nerves controlling the circulation and
muscular structures are 'jumpy'' and disturbed in
function. The intestinal action is disturbed. The brain
and nervous system are upset. The glands operate
irregularly. The whole system is deranged. Good teeth, as
indeed good eyes and ears and heart and blood vessels and
liver and kidneys, are dependent on lack of worry and
plenty oŁ restful sleep. Worry is deadly to vigor and
usefulness."
A whole book of this sort of quotations could easily be
selected. Dr. G. H. McIntosh says, "If men could wipe
out all fear from their minds, nine tenths of them would
be free from sickness." Henry Ward Beecher said,
"It is not work that kills men; it is worry. Worry is
rust upon the blade."
The mental effect of worry and fear is equally as great as
the physical effect. Through worry people often work
themselves up into a sort of mental fever so that their
nerves "go to pieces." When we worry the mind
cannot think clearly. The judgment is impaired. Things
look out of proportion. They do not seem natural, but
appear altogether different from what they do when the
mind is in a normal condition. Sometimes worry produces
great mental distress. Sometimes it partly or entirely
unfits one for work. Have you not heard people say,
"I am so upset I ;just cannot do anything."
This mental condition reacts upon the body; the physical
effects of worry react upon the mind; and we have a
vicious set of actions and reactions set up, destructive
alike to mind and body. An agitated state of the mind
affects the brain n tissues The poisons created in the
body through fear and worry react upon the brain tissues
and the mind becomes still more troubled. These things are
not imaginary. They are being suffered by thousands of
individuals. People get up in the morning tired out. They
have no energy. They have to drive themselves. This is one
common effect of worry. Another common result of worry is
lack of mental control so that the mind cannot be
concentrated on anything.
Worry also has a spiritual effect. It destroys faith. In
fact, faith and worry are mutually destructive. Faith will
destroy worry and worry will destroy faith. So whichever
is given ascendancy will destroy the other. Worry
stimulates doubts. The more we worry the more we doubt. We
have heard people talk about blind faith. Faith is not
nearly so blind as doubt. Doubt cannot see favorable
things. It sees everything in an unfavorable light and
magnifies it. There may be ever so many favorable elements
in a situation but doubt sees none of them. Worry sees
none of them. Worry brings gloom and discouragement. It
makes one moody, forgetful of God's goodness and mercy and
helpfulness. In fact, worry shuts God out of the picture.
It causes us to forget him or makes us doubt him, doubt
ourselves, and doubt others. Under the influence of worry
we can draw the most gloomy mental pictures. We clothe
everything in somber tints.
Worry also leads to self-condemnation. It makes us
minimize the good there is in us and the good there is in
life. It prevents us from exercising our powers. With
worry there is a great troop of evils. They cluster around
it and add to its damaging influence. Worry is always
evil. It never serves any good purpose. It never aids us
in accomplishing anything. It never makes anything easier.
It has nothing to recommend it.
More than that, worry is never necessary. Mark well that
statement. It is a positive truth. Worry is never
necessary. First, because it never can help us. It can
never make things easier or better. It never did any good.
It never cured any trouble. Second, we do not have to
worry. There is always a better way. We shall attempt to
point out that way later.
Worry is altogether folly. It not merely does no good—it
always makes things worse. It weakens every good thing. It
strengthens every bad thing. Worry is a noxious tree. It
bears poisonous fruits. Reader, have you one of these
poisonous worry trees ? You must rid yourself of it before
you can sing the glad songs of rejoicing that come from a
free soul. One of the secrets of the singing heart is the
remedy for worry.
|
