The Psalmist declared, "Blessed is the man" whose "delight is in the law of the Lord; ... he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."
The spiritually-minded reflect or express Godlike thoughts; they understand and abide by the law of God, meditating upon it with intelligent consistency as they go about their daily affairs. In the Psalmist's imagery the perennial qualities of the tree illustrate the eternal consciousness of life; for the true sense of being includes among other qualities continual unfoldment, perpetual loveliness, fruitful achievement, and everlasting peace.
In proving, as we are taught to do in Christian Science, that our consciousness of Life "shall not wither" and lose its freshness and vigor, we must reject the belief of life in matter, with the attendant belief in old age. From the time we are children, are we not educated to think of ourselves as growing older? This may seem natural from the material standpoint, since the outward physical changes and the mental development are constant reminders of added years. In commemorating birthdays, and in noting these changes, how often one hears the familiar expression, "How time flies!" Mankind has been educated to think of existence as material, as having a limited span of years; whereas life should be regarded in the terms of eternity. To overcome this entrenched material belief, human beings should be scientifically enlightened from earliest childhood, and taught to replace the suggestions of growing older with the spiritual realization that life is always unfolding; for then the outlook, usefulness, and prolonged achievements of mankind would advance to a more spiritual sense of activity and well-being. Indeed, if the true sense of growth and constant unfoldment replaced the belief of old age, thought would outline upon the body the truer ideal, instead of decrepitude; for as long as old age and decadence are accepted as inevitable laws of nature, mortals may passively yield to these errors and suffer the consequences.
