Article September 20, 1975 Issue

Lengthening Our Days

JEANNE STEELY LAITNER

"The understanding that Life is God, Spirit, lengthens our days by strengthening our trust in the deathless reality of Life, its almightiness and immortality."^{Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 487;} I had always read these words of Mary Baker Eddy's from the standpoint that gaining a better understanding of Life, God, increases longevity. One day, however, while pondering their meaning, I saw that this truth could also be applied to accomplishing more each day.

I had fallen into the popular habit of thinking that my urgent need was for more time in order to accomplish the diverse demands made upon me. But I began to realize that my real need was for more understanding of Life, God, and a more active trust in Him. Consequently, I strove for a more continuous, disciplined effort to understand the reality of God's eternal, deathless nature. Not only did the immortality of Life become clearer to me but I found myself less circumscribed by time limitations and able to accomplish much more than formerly, with less weariness and frustration. I discovered that an increasing spiritual understanding of God did enrich and expand my capacities.

God knows nothing of time; He knows only eternity, and time and eternity are opposites. The nothingness of time in God's universe is conveyed by the Psalmist in his words, "For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night."^{Ps. 90:4;} For God and the man of His creating, time is not an element. Time is nonexistent in the infinitely unfolding good that characterizes God's universe.