Article April 12, 2004 Issue

ETERNAL LIFE is not just a platitude

By Anne Early

Most people probably don't think much from one day to the next about life being eternal. They may accept it as a premise, or a promise, but unless they're facing the loss of a loved one, or some life-or-death situation—or the deeper questioning that comes out of catastrophic moments—most of us are inclined to leave the question of immortality for a later time.

Mary Baker Eddy spent half her life writing and revising a book that contains this statement: "Life is eternal. We should find this out, and begin the demonstration thereof" (Science and Health, p. 246). She herself prayed about every statement she made in Science and Health. Like many other readers, I've found the ideas in the book to be profoundly practical in shaping my life according to a spiritual perspective. And in many cases, this new view has brought healing.

But what about this eternal life thing? What do we do with it? How do you even begin to make it practical? Well, here's how I found my beginning.