I was listening to a tennis buddy tell me about his investment strategies for the retirement years. He was alarmed that recent investments had dropped in value, and worried about how he was going to recover his losses.
“Be patient,” I reminded him. “Good investments bounce back and hold their value,” I assured him.
“I don’t have time to be patient,” he exclaimed. “The average life span for a male is 78 years, and I’m 68. I have only ten years of life left to enjoy spending my money!”
His reaction astounded me. I’ve been playing tennis with this guy for over twenty years. I’ve never heard him complain about a health problem, ever. And he looks and acts as fit as can be. Yet here he is telling me he expects to live to 78 and is planning accordingly.
“I expect to live to over 100!” I said in return, trying to extend his perspective. “Sounds great,” he replied, but still convinced he needs to plan for the age 78.
Afterward, I got thinking about the conversation and how short-sighted both of us were in our comments.
My comment about living to over 100 was my way of saying I expect to live a long time, and happily so. But as a Christian Scientist, it’s short-sighted. God is Life, and God doesn’t live for 100 years. God lives forever. Life with God is eternal. And that’s the point of view we should be holding clearly in thought to demonstrate its benefits.
If we accept that we are going to die at a certain age, mortal mind starts planning for death at the age. And that type of planning can turn into a trajectory of decline that is no fun to live out. Afterall, death means “The end,” the end of life, health, happiness, everything. Not a pleasant drama to act out.
But in Christian Science, death is not our ending place. Life is. Life with God. Eternal Life with God.
As children of God, we don’t “Live to 78 or 100,” we live forever.
I was happy to conclude, that for the best life, we need to keep eternal Life clearly in view. We should drop notions of living to 80, 90, or 100, but see ourselves as living out our divine Life, our spiritual Life with God, that has no ending point.
Live to eternity!
Thank you, Evan – very important point. I have been keeping in mind for a while the fact that we live in the
eternal NOW which means we have no beginning and
will have no end. “Beloved, NOW are we the sons of
God”. – not have been or will be – but in the
forever NOW.
The eternal now has no past history
of sickness, sin or death, and it has no future of decline or material discords of any kind. Let’s rejoice, and live in the eternal; spiritual NOW forever, by following Christ and the teachings of Christian Science. After
all, God made us in His image and likeness, which means we are spiritual, immortal, ageless and brand new every moment. Hallelujah!!!
That would have been an interesting discussion! When we need to record our birth date on many forms and people wont let us forget our birthdays (especially the “big ones”), it is impossible to forget our human age, so I usually say that my apparent age is “only Earth years, but actually I am ageLESS”…or else I choose to be forever about 35 which was a good time for me. Most people I know understand that there is no death so I remind them that we always were and we always will be, just as God is, and we are all the expressions of God so how can we then start or finish our lives?
I welcome the comments you shared, and thank you for emailing them, as I laughed aloud when you shared “Earth years”. That’s a phrase I can’t recall ever hearing. “big ones” regarding birthdays is another one not heard. Both sides of this family relish in living useful and lengthy lives, sharing with all member of family. While time rolls by, proof is in the lives lived which history showed me were strong, well lived, and fruitful. Loved the discussion.
“I am ageless and eternal” when family ask my age, works every time and I always get a smile as it opens thought to infinite possibilities of eternal life in Spirit which will always bless others.
oh I love that response! And *thank you* Evan!
I love this Linda. Thank you for sharing. Thank you Evan. A blessed day to all.
Thank you Evan for the spirit view. I have been preparing to visit an attorney regarding a new will. Putting people into place in this will has felt like a downer. I am grateful for this view and the episode regarding the tennis partner episode .
Your words of wisdom are welcome. Thanks also to Maggie, Diane, Linda for supporting comments .
Because God is Eternal Life, death has No place in Life and death does not Glorify God who is Eternal, Immortal and Indestructible LIFE
Thank you, Evan. What a beautiful reminder of the truth about eternity and our permanent, ageless place therein. Mortal mind is dangling before us the lies about health, suggesting false needs in pharmaceuticals and various treatments, all playing to its temptations to mesmerize us into believing in the lie that life is temporary.
Mrs. Eddy provides the perfect treatment for this claim on page 246 of Science and Health: “Never record ages. Chronological data are no part of the vast forever. Time-tables of birth and death are so many conspiracies against manhood and womanhood. Except for the error of measuring and limiting all that is good and beautiful, man would enjoy more than threescore years and ten and still maintain his vigor, freshness and promise. Man, governed by immortal Mind, is always beautiful and grand. Each succeeding year unfolds wisdom, beauty and holiness.
“Life is eternal. We should find this out, and begin the demonstration thereof.”
To look at numbers ..any one at all, each is eternally perfect they never tire and useful and there when they are needed.. there isn’t any stigma in a number..and never any lack.
Smiling is always the answer… thanks every…1
It is true what you say about numbers Tina. Numbers are perfect ideas that are eternal and unchanging, non-material, always useful and working together harmoniously, all equally important — just like us.
The only difficulty is when we let mortal mind start assigning certain false ideas to different numbers that we call our “age” and give it meanings it does not have. Then we may develop expectations about these false meanings and limit our view. Our view is the Spirit View, unlimited, unbounded, full of “vigor, freshness and promise,” as in the great quote Bob gave from Mrs. Eddy.
I remember way back when I turned “25,” I declared myself Ageless. Need to start recognizing this eternal truth again.
Life is Love and Love literally has no beginning and certainly is eternal for their is no end. Thanks for this wonderful truth to land on and express continuously, Evan.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
Thank you Evan and all the wonderful comments in support of eternal ageless being. So important.
Thank you Evan and all! It occurred to me that nobody standing before a mirror would expect their reflection to die out after a period of time. Neither should we expect our life to die out since we are the reflection, manifestation, of an eternal God. Here’s a article that brings out that truth. I’ve been told that Paul Stark Seeley demonstrated ageless life in his human life…by demonstrating vigor, strength, etc., throughout his human life. Anyone else have more details about that?
A Great Fact—God Is Self-sustained
Paul Stark Seeley
https://sentinel.christianscience.com/shared/view/4l7eekrfj4?s=copylink
Thank you, Evan, for today’s SpiritView, and thank you, RobertH, for the article you have shared. It is excellent.
Thank you, Evan, for this inspiring reminder to replace thoughts of aging with thoughts of eternal life! I took my niece to a nearby playground where there is an extra large merry go round with a place to sit in the center that doesn’t spin. I took a time-lapse photograph of her sitting there, in perfect stillness, while the movement of the other children became a colorful blur. Time is sometimes referred to as a wheel. When life is lived and perceived on the outer perimeter, there appears to be maximum movement, and a strong sense of more time passing. When awareness is moved toward the center or hub of the wheel (God), there is peace, powerful stillness and a beautiful 360 degree view. I’m grateful to be reminded that we wake up every moment with this choice!
Thank you, Evan!
This is the time to quote one of my favorite Bible verses, Job 11: 17
“…… thine age shall be clearer than the noonday;
thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the
morning.” KJV
Thanks Evan! I can totally relate to your conversation with your friend. While always working on knowing that since we are spiritual, our real (only) life is eternal – I also have spent considerable time thinking about the things I like to do (mtnbk, ski, hike, motorcycle, fix or maintain stuff (for my wife and I, for church, for neighbors, relatives, etc.), but felt it was true that I wouldn’t always be doing that stuff forever. I doubt I will be going off of ten foot drops on my mtnbk when I’m in my eighties (not too long from now). Although I realize that there is no real reason I couldn’t other that my not demonstrating that level of spiritual freedom. So at first (over 10 years ago) I reasoned that I wold loose interest in those things, so no big deal. But then the mental challenge came – what will replace them. This Spirit View, and other articles and, of course, S&H, and the Bible lessons, are showing me the way – looking to God daily to hear how to glorify Him, to do his will, is the answer. Haha, onward for eternity! Thanks for the SV today! Cheers!
WOW SUPER REMINDER…Thanks, Evan
The liveliness of this conversation proves the point that we are all living in Spirit and encouraging one another.
I expect I am not the only one in this group who receives perpetual compliments on how youngI look…. I don’t often attribute it to my understanding of Christian Science, though, if it seems appropriate (if I think that person is receptive), I will.
I’ve just always thought it was absurd to buy into the human theory that the Earth circling the sun somehow diminishes our health, energy, and brings about material aging. It’s utter nonsense.
What a wonderful conversation around this spiritual breakfast today. I’m always grateful to learn from all of you! I love the article by Paul Stark Seeley.
And thank you, Carolyn especially for that delightful image of your niece staying still while all those children circle around her. I try to put myself there in consciousness and observe the world whirling about me,, while I can remain peacefully secure, centered, as we all are, in God.
Happy Live-ing!
Thanks Annie, love what you said about it being utter nonsense to buy into the human theory (and it is only a theory, though widely accepted) that the Earth revolving around the sun has any bearing on aging or diminishment of vitality or Life. Prominent PhD astrophysicist and Christian Scientist Laurance Doyle in his speaking and writing on CS often mentions this. He said, on the topic of Time,
“Basically what we’re measuring is the orbit of the earth around the sun….. there is no relationship between the orbit of the earth around the sun and the aging of the human body, There is no relationship there — not even totally material observation supports one.” (The article is titled The Redundancy of Time: An Astrophysicist’s View Sentinel May 5, 1997, sorry I don’t have a link).
If you’re like me, often you go back and read the comments that were added throughout the day before and I saw yours, Annie. Here is a link to the Sentinel program you mention with Dr. Doyle. His insights are excellent! Enjoy
https://sentinel.christianscience.com/shared/view/1ofg02endmu?s=copylink
Thank you Evan for this much needed Spiritview about being ageless. And thanks for everyone’s comments. Larry Waters’s comments about “I reasoned that I wold loose interest in those things, so no big deal. But then the mental challenge came – what will replace them.” I’ve been asking myself similar questions. Thank you RobertH for your analogy about our reflection ” It occurred to me that nobody standing before a mirror would expect their reflection to die out after a period of time. Neither should we expect our life to die out since we are the reflection, manifestation, of an eternal God”
Wow! Thankyou Evan, and everyone, this really makes one think and watch your thoughts, Every day makes its demands upon us in all sorts of ways. Watch.!
Thank you for this topic. I’ve found this poem helpful too.
HAPPY UN-BIRTHDAY
Lona Ingwerson
I’m to record my birth date on line 3.
Sure.
But I’ll tell you where I’m not recording it—
In my consciousness.
I refuse to be trapped into the
Birth,
Maturity,
Decay syndrome,
The adolescent/senile cycle
With a brief space in the middle
To hurry up and be prosperous.
No way.
I am who I am,
Created by God
In His own likeness;
Not approaching nor retiring
But there,
Now,
Always.
Thank you, Evan, for this great and important reminder. It is challenging as we “age” and are around other people who complain about their aches and pains, and replacement of body parts. Advertisers from every direction hit us with the messages of physical pain and decline as we get to a certain “age” in our lives (and then we start to notice some of those pushed-on-us beliefs), and tell us that we need their product/s to keep us from total decline. It takes “alertness to duty”, as Mrs. Eddy says, and that duty includes our keeping guard over our thoughts, minute by minute, from the onslaught of all of humanity’s beliefs about getting “older”. In thought, belief, and example, we must renew ourselves day by day, guarding our thoughts and the messages we let in. Awaken to our wholeness and completeness with God, and uphold boundaries on our ears and eyes.