Ben Stein - The Eyes of Faith: Thoughts to Bear in Mind to Get Through Even the Worst Days

Also by Ben Stein THE GIFT OF PEACE:Guideposts on the Road to SerenityHOW SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE WIN:Using Bunkhouse Logic to Get What You Want in LifeHOW TO RUIN YOUR FINANCIAL LIFEHOW TO RUIN YOUR LIFE hardcover
(also available as an audio book) HOW TO RUIN YOUR LOVE LIFEHOW TO RUIN YOUR LIFE tradepaper
(comprises the three How to Ruin titles above) THE REAL STARS:
In Todays America, Who Are the True Heroes?26 STEPS TO SUCCEED IN HOLLYWOOD...
or Any Other Business (co-written with Al Burton) By Ben Stein and Phil DeMuth CAN AMERICA SURVIVE?:The Rage of the Left, the Truth,
and What to Do about ItHOW TO RUIN THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICAYES, YOU CAN BE A SUCCESSFUL INCOME
INVESTOR!:Reaching for Yield in Todays MarketYES, YOU CAN GET A FINANCIAL LIFE!:Your Lifetime Guide to Financial PlanningYES, YOU CAN STILL RETIRE COMFORTABLY!:The Baby-Boom Retirement Crisis and How to Beat ItYES, YOU CAN SUPERCHARGE YOUR PORTFOLIO!:Six Steps for Investing Success in the 21st Century All of the above are available at your local bookstore, or may
be ordered by visiting: Hay House USA: www.hayhouse.com
Hay House Australia: www.hayhouse.com.au
Hay House UK: www.hayhouse.co.uk
Hay House South Africa: www.hayhouse.co.za
Hay House India: www.hayhouse.co.in How To Not Go Crazy Thoughts to Bear in Mind to Get
Through Even the Worst Days Ben Stein HAY HOUSE, INC. Carlsbad, California New York City
London Sydney Johannesburg
Vancouver Hong Kong New Delhi Copyright 2009 by Ben Stein Published and distributed in the United States by: Hay House, Inc.: www.hayhouse.com Published and distributed in Australia by: Hay House Australia Pty. Ltd.: www.hayhouse.com.au Published and distributed in the United Kingdomby: Hay House UK, Ltd.: www.hayhouse.co.uk Published and distributed in theRepublic of South Africa by: Hay House SA (Pty), Ltd.: www.hayhouse.co.za Distributedin Canada by: Raincoast: www.raincoast.com Published in India by: Hay House Publishers India: www.hayhouse.co.in Editorial supervision: Jill Kramer Design: Nick C. Welch All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced by any mechanical, photographic, or electronic process, or in the form of a phonographic recording; nor may it be stored in a retrieval system, transmitted, or otherwise be copied for public or private useother than for fair use as brief quotations embodied in articles and reviewswithout prior written permission of the publisher. The author of this book does not dispense medical advice or prescribe the use of any technique as a form of treatment for physical, emotional, or medical problems without the advice of a physician, either directly or indirectly. The intent of the author is only to offer information of a general nature to help you in your quest for emotional and spiritual well-being.

In the event you use any of the information in this book for yourself, which is your constitutional right, the author and the publisher assume no responsibility for your actions.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Stein, Benjamin.
The eyes of faith : how to not go crazy : thoughts to bear in mind to get through even
the worst days / Ben Stein.
p. cm.
ISBN 978-1-4019-2552-9 (tradepaper : alk. paper) 1. Conduct of life--Quotations,
maxims, etc. 2. 3. 3.

Affirmations. I. Title.
BJ1581.2.S733 2009
204.42--dc22 2009003759 ISBN: 978-1-4019-2552-9 12 11 10 09 4 3 2 1
1st edition, December 2009 Printed in the United States of America For my big wifey Contents I f you stand on a high ledge, say about 70 feet, and look at the expanse of Lake Pend Oreille in north Idaho from the town of Sandpoint, you can see an almost limitless expanse of cool, clear water. Hazily off in the distance are the hills and mountains called the Selkirks. On most days, you see almost no people, maybe just a few sailboats lazily gliding on the silvery blue water. This is a peaceful place.

Many times a day, a freight train comes through town. It makes the ground tremble. Somehow, though, the strength of the train blends with the strength of the water, and above it, the endless light blue sky. Again, this is a peaceful place. I have been spending the summers here for about 16 years now, as of 2009. In a world that often seems to be falling apart from fear and anxiety about money, this place represents peace.

I feel the same way about the meeting rooms of a certain 12-step program I have been in for 20 years. Amidst all of the people and the wreckage of past lives, there is peace. There is a special kind of peace: reliance on God, surrender to God. This is what peace is all about: the knowledge that we are protected by God and His limitless power. You see it materialized in north Idaho. You see it in the mighty Santa Rosa Mountains near Palm Springs.

I first saw it in the redwoods and ocean vistas of glorious Santa Cruz, California. You can have it inside you anytime you truly surrender to God. I hope and believe that if you carry the advice and experience I have collected within these pages, you will see it and feel it whenever you need it. Life is difficult. It helps to be able to carry a little bit of north Idaho with you and see with the eyes of faith. But you can if you believe that God is protecting you and has a plan for your life.

I respectfully hope that what Ive presented here will tell you how to hear and follow that plan. I learned much of what is here from 12-step meetings. Much of it just came to me as I was looking out at Lake Pend Oreille. There is peace here, and I hope you find it. Ben Stein
Sandpoint, Idaho Authors Note: Throughout this book, some of the entries are written in the first person and are set in italics. Heres a good way to wake up:
in gratitude for just being alive. Heres a good way to wake up:
in gratitude for just being alive.

The usefulness of anger compared
with its harmfulness is extremely small. You can get in the habit of just not
getting angry... and thats a great habit. I cannot afford resentments, large or small. Your goal today should be simple: to not
be afraid and to stay in touch with God. I am open to all of life, including
the misfortune, stupidity, bad luck, and
incompetence of everyone around me and in me.It is a great day when
I wake up not hating myself. The ideal default position