Editorial January 1, 1949 Issue

TIME AND ETERNITY

Robert Ellis Key

Everything mortal happens in the course of time, at least that is the belief about it. What is not happening in the twenty–four hours of the day is not regarded as happening at all, according to the mortal testimony. The why and wherefore of our daily coming and going is supposed to be dependent on time and obedient to time's bidding. Mortals are victims of time, for they regard it as a yardstick of the day's processional, slicing it up into convenient pieces, measuring it out in minutes and hours, dividing it by morning, noon, and night. The earth sets the pace for time by turning every twenty–four hours upon its own axis. If we resided upon a distant planet, our concept of time and space would undoubtedly be different.

In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mary Baker Eddy gives a definition of time in part as follows (p. 595): "Mortal measurements; limits, in which are summed up all human acts, thoughts, beliefs, opinions, knowledge." In view of this definition, it is clear we do not require more time; indeed, it is undesirable that we have more limits, or mortal measurements. Better by far to find shorter and more direct ways of action than to employ lengthy and well–worn timetables.

To estimate time in a better measure we must improve upon it. We do not find it easy at once to discard time, but we know in Christian Science that it is imperative to claim our dominion over it. The countless ways in which time claims to affect us must be overcome by the understanding of eternity.

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