THE human sense of life is limited by a tenacious belief in three distinct periods of existence—youth, manhood, and old age. Broadly speaking, the first is spent in hope, in looking forward; the second is too often filled with dissatisfaction that greater success and happiness do not materialize; and the third, in looking back to the mistakes of the past, in so-called repose, clouded by the regretful sense of having accomplished little or nothing of true worth. All these unsatisfactory and unsatisfying conditions are removed as, in the light of Christian Science, life is seen to be spiritual and not material; not limited by matter, nor governed by time, but as expressing man's oneness with God, and unfolding in endless continuity. Immortal man has neither birth nor death. It is mortal man, the counterfeit, who to human sense appears to be born, to live for a period, and to die. Of immortal man Mrs. Eddy writes (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 82): "Man is the offspring and idea of the Supreme Being, whose law is perfect and infinite. In obedience to this law, man is forever unfolding the endless beatitudes of Being; for he is the image and likeness of infinite Life, Truth, and Love."
When we have once arrived at a knowledge of this truth, life is seen to unfold day by day, and to overflow with the boundless promise and fulfillment of good and ever widening opportunities. These blessings are ours as we perceive man's inseparability from God—Life, Truth, and Love. Life is no longer regarded as being limited to so many years, and to certain successive material conditions, accepted as unavoidable by the human senses; for Life, God, is seen not to be dependent upon material development, on maturity, on decay. God's spiritual ideas, existing before the human sense of birth and despite the human sense of death, always have been, are now, and always will be complete and perfect, individual units in the spiritual universe; for every idea constantly reflects and coexists with Life, its divine Principle.
This harmonious and orderly un-foldment becomes apparent to individual consciousness as each one learns to apply to his daily problems the truth of man's being. Then like a rosebud opening its petals to the sun, human consciousness unfolds to a wider and clearer knowledge of God. The result is speedily seen in greater happiness and contentment, more harmonious surroundings, and a larger sense of freedom from care and from a sense of limitation in the conditions of daily life.
Life is eternal. Instead of moving forward to what has been thought to be the inevitable experience of death, life should consist of the continually clearer realization of all that is good; of increased intelligence, since God is Mind; a wider sense of unselfishness and kindness, for God is Love; a deeper understanding of sincerity and honesty, since God is Truth; a stronger hold on life, as reflecting the Life which is God. Instead of accepting the belief of the decreasing vitality of so-called old age, one may and should expect to obtain with advancing years greater spiritual attainments and increased blessing. "Be ye therefore perfect," said Christ Jesus, the Way-shower, "even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." He did not give this rule for any specified time, or within certain limitations. He knew that as God the Father is perfect, so the sons of God are perfect, and that we should be continually aware of this spiritual perfection.
It is most important that this conscious completeness and unchangeable perfection and continuity should be always held in thought, so that we may regard each day and hour as a time, not of temporary effort resulting in exhaustion, but of un-foldment in understanding and conscious realization of perfection. Un-foldment, then, comes through spiritual sense, the knowledge of God. Through un-foldment every true thought, word, and deed is seen as the result of the understanding of man's conscious oneness with Life, Truth, and Love. Through it we know there can be no fatigue, no exhaustion in God's service; no limited time in which to do His work; no lack of supply where Love gives bounteously all that we need; no place for death where infinite Mind is continually unfolding a more perfect knowledge of Life; no room for imperfection where all is perfect and unchangeable.
Could any thought be more comforting to those who may have felt overworked, pressed for want of time, impoverished, lacking in intelligence, ill, or sorrowful, than this ideal of un-foldment, the opening out into complete understanding of a limitless inheritance, bestowed not on a favored few, but to be shared in equal measure by all, as it is claimed by each one? In taking possession of this inheritance we shall inevitably lose the sense of fear; fear through which, in one form or another, age with its attendant limitations has apparent power over mankind. So long have these evils been dreaded as inevitable that mankind has submitted to and accepted them, without knowing how they may be overcome.
Christian Science, the discovery of Mary Baker Eddy, shows the practicality of applying spiritual understanding to the solution of all these problems. And anyone who will study (tScience and Health with Key to the Scriptures," in which she has set forth and explained Christian Science for all to learn and endeavor perseveringly to recognize themselves as in reality God's perfect ideas, not subject to limitation of days or declining power, will find that life opens out into happiness and joyous activity, instead of lapsing into weakness and inactivity. They will daily experience greater spiritual ability, and a truer, because purer, sense of beauty and harmony. They will realize the truth of Mrs. Eddy's words (Science and Health, p. 306), "Undisturbed amid the jarring testimony of the material senses, Science, still enthroned, is unfolding to mortals the immutable, harmonious, divine Principle,—is unfolding Life and the universe, ever present and eternal."
Praises are the breathings of interior love, the marks and symptoms of a happy life, overflowing gratitude, returning benefits, an oblation of the soul, and the heart ascending upon the wings of divine affection to the throne of God.—
