PERHAPS at no period of the year are the thoughts of mortals more apt to turn to the contemplation of the things that pertain to time than at the New Year. The old year has gone with its many and varied experiences, and they are prone to dwell on these either gladly or with regret. And how readily thought shifts from the past to the future, often afraid that the latter will see a repetition of the afflictions of the past! For mortals believe in limitation; their lives are lived within narrow limits, in which there seems to be a continual recurrence of experiences, good or bad.
Time is a mortal concept. Mrs. Eddy defines it in part on page 595 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" thus: "TIME. Mortal measurements; limits, in which are summed up all human acts, thoughts, beliefs, opinions, knowledge; matter; error." So, time can never be dissociated from matter. But, as Christian Science declares, matter is unreal, since God, Spirit, is infinite. Hence time is likewise an unreal concept. The human race believes in the reality of matter and time, and belief in death is the inevitable result. This belief in mortality will be overcome only when matter and time have been demonstrated to be entirely illusory through the understanding which Christian Science gives of the eternal nature of real or spiritual being.
But how, more particularly, is the mastery over matter and time to be gained? It must come through the understanding of God and His creation, including man. God is infinite Mind or Spirit; and, being infinite, He is unchangeable, invariable. And Mind's creation, which consists of perfect spiritual ideas, must likewise be unchangeable, invariable. Consequently, since man, the real man, is the idea of God, he is unchangeable, the eternally perfect reflection of his Maker.
