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Victorious Attitude

[Pg 343] <h2>CHAPTER XVI OUR ONENESS WITH INFINITE LIFE</h2> <div class="blockquot">He lives best and most who gives God his greatest opportunity in him. If we only knew how to live and move and have our being in Him, to be conscious of this every instant, we should then know what true living means. We should be satisfied, for we should then awake in His likeness. "Deep within every heart that has not dulled the sense of its inner vision is the belief that we are one with some great unknown, unseen power; and that we are somehow inseparably connected with the Infinite Consciousness." It is a mental law that thoughts and convictions can only attract their kind. A hatred thought is a hatred magnet and the longer we harbor it, the more steadily we contemplate it, focus our minds upon it, the larger and more powerful the hatred magnet becomes. </div> In the early days of the great European war a Jewish soldier, in the first line of a Russian battalion, engaged in a man to man fight with an Austrian in the opposing battalion. In their desperate encounter the Russian Jew drove his bayonet through the breast of his opponent. As the latter, an Austrian Jew, fell mortally wounded, with his dying breath[Pg 344] he gasped the Hebrew prayer, which begins, "Hear, O Israel." The Russian, realizing that he had killed a brother Jew, overcome with horror, fell fainting on the battlefield. When he regained consciousness he was a raving lunatic. When will men realize that we are all brothers; that we are all members of the same great human family, children of the same great Father-Mother-God. When will we see that though oceans and continents divide us, though we may speak different tongues, may differ in race, color and creed, yet we are so closely related in thought and motive that our deepest, most vital interests are identical. Time and again despite all outward differences has that invisible bond of union which binds mankind into one great family manifested itself even on the battlefield. There men who have sabered or shot at and wounded each other have become fast friends and learned to feel their brotherhood. Many and many a time has it happened that soldiers who had been bitter enemies in battle and had tried in every way to kill each other, have found while convalescing side by side that they[Pg 345] were really one in sympathy and feeling, brothers at heart and did not know it. If these men had known and seen into one another's soul before the battle as they had afterwards in the hospital they never could have been induced to fire at or to try to injure one another. In spite of our failures, our blunders, our crimes, the nations are coming closer and closer together. Scientific discoveries, marvelous inventions, the extended use of steam and electricity, the conquest of the air, all these are fast welding the interests of mankind and bringing into close and intimate relation the most distant countries of the globe. The Occident and the Orient are no longer at the ends of the earth. They are beginning to know and to respect each other, and to learn each from the other. They are beginning to realize in its largest sense the truth of Kipling's utterance: "But there is neither East nor West, Border, nor Breed, nor Birth, When two strong men stand face to face, tho' they come from the ends of the earth." Scientists are piling up proof after proof of the unity, not only of mankind, but of every[Pg 346]thing in the universe, of the oneness of all life. They are demonstrating that there is but one substance, one eternal force or essence in the universe, and that all we see is but a varying expression of it. Everything about us is merely a modification, a change of form of this universal substance, just as electricity is a manifestation of force in various forms—in its unchained power in rending giant trees and destroying huge buildings, and as harnessed by man in moving trains, in lighting our homes, in furnishing heat for cooking and in many other domestic and industrial devices. The lesson of lessons for us to learn from this is our inseparable union with the Creator of life, that everlasting, eternal unity of spirit, that oneness with the Father which Christ came to teach. "I and the Father are one." "I am the vine, ye are the branches." We are as closely united one to the other, and all to the Father as are the branches to the parent stem. When we are conscious of our union, of our co-partnership with the Infinite, we feel an added power, just as the branch feels the force of the life currents flowing into it from the[Pg 347] vine. Severed from the parent stem the same branch would not feel so confident. It would soon find that of itself it could do nothing; and in a short time it would wither and die. The moment we pluck a flower from its stem it begins to wilt and fade because it is separated from the source of its life. Cut off from the great chemical laboratory of Nature, from the creative, miracle-working energy of the sun, the soil, and the atmosphere, it dies within a few hours. The moment we are cut off from our Divine Source we begin to wither, shrivel and die. As long as we remain separate nothing can stop this fatal blighting process. When we are not fed from our Source we are like the branch severed from the parent vine, like the flower plucked from its mother stem. My experience has shown that people who, from different causes, feel cut off from connection with the Divine Source of things suffer intensely from fear. They are filled with a vague, but overmastering terror which presses upon them with greater force because it is unseen, unknown. They dimly feel that like meteors in the sky which have passed be[Pg 348]yond the controlling gravity governing the other heavenly bodies, they are separate, unrelated human atoms without assurance that they are under a protective, guiding, sustaining power. Victims of extreme nervous diseases are often overwhelmed with a sense of utter isolation, of being cut off from every sustaining force, and they are terror stricken, just as a child who has lost its way, and knows not where to turn. Temporarily, and in a lesser degree, people who are terrified in a thunder storm and rush to a cellar, anywhere to hide themselves from threatened danger, suffer from this feeling of separation, of aloneness. All who are affected in this way would be greatly benefited by dwelling on such Biblical passages as, "In Him we live and move and have our being," "The Father in me and I in the Father." These are strictly scientific truths. We could not live or move or have any being apart from the Power that made us, that sustains and supports us, and the consciousness of this gives a steadying, buttressing sense of security and safety that nothing else can.[Pg 349] Our individual strength comes from our conscious oneness with Omnipotence, just as our national or corporate strength is derived from union with one another. Each human being is like a drop of water in the ocean. He is not independent. He cannot work alone. Consciously or unconsciously he is a part of the masses all around him. He is touched by other water drops on every side, and his existence, his success is largely dependent upon his union with the others. Even if a drop of the ocean could separate itself from the mass and should try to live its own life in its own way it would soon cease to exist as a drop. A man cannot accomplish much alone. His success depends on his union with other men. His dignity and strength are reënforced by the organization or association of which he is a unit, as a cable is reënforced by the sum of the strength of its separate wires. "Nature," says Humboldt, "is Unity in diversity of manifestation, one stupendous whole, animated by the breath of life." When we come into conscious realization of the truth that we are a part, the most important part, of the stupendous whole created by God, and that[Pg 350] we are working in coöperation with Him, we will come into possession of a power and dignity which will make our lives sublime. The greatest minds of all ages have drawn their strength from the invisible Source, from their vital connection with the Power which creates, and works through every one of us. They have also believed in the great mission of the race; believed in a divine plan running through the universe which works for righteousness, and shapes the destiny of the race. This faith in the Godward movement of the great human current has characterized even those who did not openly profess any religious faith. Their belief in the divinity of humanity has been a strong factor in their character, and the root source of their power. This same faith, this unquestioned confidence in the divine cosmic Intelligence, has given more comfort, has brought more peace of mind, and happiness to vast multitudes of human beings than any other thing. Indeed it is the only thing that can bring us true peace, enduring happiness. There is something beside brain force needed to make a man a real constructive power in[Pg 351] the world, and that is his divine connection, his being in the current which runs Godward. Without this essential, notwithstanding all that the mind and the body can do for us, we feel a void in our being, a great lack, a longing, a yearning for something, we know not what. Without this, even though we have the most complete physical and mental equipment, we are like a new electric car, ready for service, thoroughly equipped in every detail, except the trolley pole, which makes the connection with the electric current. Completion, satisfaction, divine energy can only come from attuning ourselves to something beyond the physical and the mental plane. We must put up our trolley pole and tap the infinite Source of Power or else we are, so far as true progress is concerned, in the position of the car that is not connected with the motor force that alone gives it power to move forward. We must tap the divine current running Godward through contemplation, through prayer, through noble deeds, unselfish service, honest endeavor to live up to our best. We can not make connection with Divine Power through any selfish cause, any greedy deed.[Pg 352] It is a strange thing that human beings will take the chances of cutting themselves off from this mighty current which runs truthward, justiceward, and Godward, and try to make a substitute of their own puny strength. Yet every time we consciously do wrong, every time we depart from the truth, every time we commit a dishonest, unworthy act, do a mean, contemptible thing, we separate ourselves from this current and lessen the omnipotent grip upon us. We break our connection and become a prey to all sorts of fears and doubts. Some one has truly said that "when a man has committed an evil act he has attached himself to sorrow." Because of the unity of all life, he has established relationship between himself and the whole human current of vicious influences; he has made connection with all the forces in the universe that conspire to drag him down, to draw him still further away from the Creator and Inspirer of all good. The converse is equally true. Let a man do a good deed, commit himself to a noble work, and all the creative, uplifting forces will rush to his aid. He will be reënforced by the[Pg 353] added power of all others working in the same spirit, on the same plane. All good things vibrate in unison; they belong to the same family. So all bad things vibrate in unison, and belong to one family. Attract one of them and you attract all the others because they are on the same plane. A discouraged, despondent mood, for example, makes connection with the whole discouraged and despondent family, the whole failure army, and when we make this connection our entire being is adjusted to the gloomy, discouraged vibration. If we harbor the poverty thought, the fear of coming to want we unite ourselves with all the poverty vibrations in the universe, and whatever has an affinity with poverty rushes toward us through the current we have established. On the self same principle, let one think cheerful, optimistic thoughts, let him make connections with the current of opulence, of the generous, overflowing abundance supply of the Creator and he allies himself with all the helpful, productive, creative forces in existence. At one time it was thought that we could[Pg 354] get no knowledge or impressions excepting through the five senses, but we know now that there are many other avenues by which we communicate with one another. There is a mental, a spiritual communication which is more intimate, more real than any we can make by physical contact or expression. We can sit beside those who are in sympathy with us for hours without touching them, without a word being spoken, without a look, and yet enjoy the sweetest and most delightful converse. We are conscious that our minds are intercommunicating in a deeper, more subtle, satisfying manner than is possible by means of physical contact or through the senses. In fact, there are many occasions in life so sacred that we feel mere words would profane, distress, disturb rather than help or comfort. We are aware that they are too coarse to convey the finest sentiments, that they are too bungling, too awkward to carry the expressions of sympathy, of love back and forth from soul to soul that are in tune with each other. The message of love teaches that the "love of life is a single heart beating through God, and you and me." "One life runs through all creation's veins."[Pg 355] The mind sees beauties which the physical eye never beholds. The mental ear hears harmonies, melodies which the auditory nerve is too gross to perceive. The soul through its closer union with God receives perceptions which even the mind cannot comprehend. By means of this divine connection through the Great Within of ourselves we can accumulate power that will revolutionize our lives. Right here in our own being we can loose streams of energy infinitely more potent than any physical power. We know that the great cosmic ether everywhere about us is filled with divine vibrations, charged with spiritual force, and omniscient intelligence which are always waiting to flood our minds when we make the right connections and are ready to receive them. This cosmic ether or universal substance is the source of all supply, as well as of that divine power, which most people shut out of their lives because they do not know how to unite themselves with it. They resolutely shut their minds to the divine inflow by refusing to believe in anything that is not demonstrable through the senses.[Pg 356] Most of us are very skeptical of the reality of the unseen. We are doubting Thomases, who can be convinced only by the material, by that which we can see or feel. If children could only be trained in a different atmosphere; if they could be made at the start to reach out mentally into the unseen realities and utilize them for their own purposes, just as we mold and fashion material things, there would be comparatively few failures in life. It was intended that man should live in perpetual contact with the Power that created him, that would keep him in tune with all that is healthful and good and pure and true, but, unfortunately, we are constantly losing our connection and thus making ourselves impotent, weak, when we might be potent, strong, creative. To live in wireless communication with the divine current that runs through all creation is to be in touch with Divinity indeed, is to be divinely successful. No power outside of ourselves can cut us off from communication with this current. Even the worst criminals, those who have been cut off from human society may still be one[Pg 357] with their Source if they choose. The Creator has not cut them off, has not discarded them. They have broken the connection themselves. The Creator would not blast with a thunderbolt, would not crush with his wrath the most profane wretch that ever lived, even though he should curse Him for creating him. The great love of the Father would still sustain him, keep him alive, feed him, permit the same beautiful sun to shine upon him as upon the greatest saint. All the blessings of nature would still be there for his enjoyment, would be given as freely to him as to the most devoted worshiper. If we could only grasp this superb truth, our oneness with the great creative principle of the universe it would transform the race. It would banish fear. It would bring peace and harmony into our lives. It would give us a sense of security and satisfaction and happiness such as we never before knew. Until we realize our unity with God and one another we can never grow to our full stature; we can never utilize the manifold powers at our command. Nor shall we ever reach that glorified man[Pg 358]hood which matches the Creator's pattern of the possible man until it is ingrained into every child's nature that he was not only created by his Father-Mother-God, but that he is forever after vitally connected with Him, that He is nearer to him than his own hands and feet, closer than his own heartbeat. This oneness of the child with his Maker is the principle which must ultimately mold the race into perfect beings. THE END   <hr style="width: 100%;" /> THE MARDEN INSPIRATIONAL BOOKS <div class='center'> <table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> <tr><td align='left'> Be Good to Yourself Every Man a King Exceptional Employee Getting On He Can Who Thinks He Can How to Get What You Want Joys of Living Keeping Fit Love's Way Making Life a Masterpiece Miracle of Right Thought Optimistic Life Peace, Power, and Plenty Progressive Business Man Pushing to the Front Rising in the World Secret of Achievement Self-Investment Selling Things Training for Efficiency Victorious Attitude Woman and the Home Young Man Entering Business </td></tr> </table></div> SUCCESS BOOKLETS <div class='center'> <table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" summary=""> <tr><td align='left'>An Iron Will</td><td align='left'>Ambition</td><td align='left'>Cheerfulness</td></tr> <tr><td align='left'>Good Manners    </td><td align='left'>Do it to a Finish</td><td align='left'>Character</td></tr> <tr><td align='left'>Economy</td><td align='left'>Opportunity</td><td align='left'>Thrift</td></tr> <tr><td align='left'></td><td align='left'>Power of Personality</td></tr> </table></div> SPECIAL BOOKS AND BOOKLETS <div class='center'> <table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" summary=""> <tr><td align='left'>Hints for Young Writers    </td><td align='left'>I Had a Friend</td></tr> <tr><td align='left'>Success Nuggets</td><td align='left'>Why Grow Old?</td></tr> <tr><td align='center' colspan='2'>Not the Salary but the Opportunity</td></tr> </table></div> Send for Publishers' Special Circular of these Great Books <hr style="width: 100%;" /> Letters to Dr. Marden concerning Pushing to the Front What President McKinley Said "It cannot but be an inspiration to every boy or girl who reads it, and who is possessed of an honorable and high ambition. Nothing that I have seen of late is more worthy to be placed in the hands of the American youth." William McKinley. An English View "I have read 'Pushing to the Front' with much interest. It would be a great stimulus to any young man entering life." Sir John Lubbock. A Powerful Factor "This book has been a powerful factor in making a great change in my life. I feel that I have been born into a new world." Robert S. Livingston, Deweyville, Tex. The Helpfulest Book "'Pushing to the Front' is more of a marvel to me every day. I read it almost daily. It is the helpfulest book in the English language." Myron T. Pritchard, Boston, Mass. A Practical Gift "It has been widely read by our organization of some fifteen hundred men. I have personally made presents of more than one hundred copies." E. A. Evans, President Chicago Portrait Co. Its Weight in Gold "If every young man could read it carefully at the beginning of his career it would be worth more to him than its weight in gold." R. T. Allen, Billings, Mon. THOMAS Y. CROWELL COMPANY <hr style="width: 100%;" /> PRESS REVIEWS OF The Optimistic Life Holds the Attention "The title of this book attracts the attention, and the contents rivet it." The Watchman. Rich in Thought and Suggestion "A book rich in noble thought. Few are those who will not wince under the good-natured thrusts that Dr. Marden gives their foibles and weaknesses, but few also are they who may not find much helpful suggestion here." San Francisco Chronicle. Strengthens Spirit and Body "Dr. Marden has done an immense amount of good by this practical advice and encouraging insistence upon the essentials of happiness. The spirit of the toiler needs strengthening quite as much as his body." Christian Advocate. Its Wholesome Brain Fare "This volume contains quantities of plain, wholesome brain fare for the misanthrope and the cynic." Des Moines Register. Both Uplifting and Necessary "'Do not look on life through smoked glasses' is Dr. Marden's motto. He believes so enthusiastically in cheerfulness, energy, and kindness that he can almost persuade one to believe there is no necessity for old age, sorrow, or discouragement. Still there is no doubt but his message is not only uplifting but necessary." Indianapolis News. THOMAS Y. CROWELL COMPANY <hr style="width: 100%;" /> OPINIONS OF THE Progressive Business Man Sound, Practical Suggestions "Contains a lot of sound, practical suggestions worth considering by those responsible for the conduct of business enterprises." New York Times. Good Business Advice "One of the best books of business advice ever published." Albany Argus. Worthy of High Commendation "A book that contains such valuable information—and there is no doubt about this being the quality of its contents—ought to be widely read and highly prized. It is worthy of high commendation." Religious Telescope. An Inspiration and a Guide "A work that should be in the hands of every business man who desires to promote the welfare of his business. It will prove both an inspiration and a guide." Christian Work and Evangelist. Valuable Information "The information in this book is so valuable that it ought to have the widest possible reading. We unhesitatingly commend it to every business man." Trojan Messenger. Sane and Helpful "Like all the Marden books, it contains a sane and helpful philosophy of right conduct." Des Moines Capital. THOMAS Y. CROWELL COMPANY <div style="break-after:column;"></div>

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