Article March 18, 1996 Issue

"How old are you?"

Joyce K. Marin

It started as a simple question, although many people would have considered it a personal one. A co-worker asked, "How old are you?"

Although it was a simple question, it wasn't one I could answer simply. You see, a friend of mine had recently suggested that I stop counting my age. At the time, the way my friend explained it seemed so logical. She said that the study of Christian Science was the study of an infinite God, good, and His perfect creation, man. If I was striving to prove this, it would be natural for me to let go of limiting thinking. "Counting our age limits our thinking," she said. I had to admit that Mary Baker Eddy's forthright statement "Never record ages" (Science and Health, p. 246) supported my friend's words and did not appear to leave any room for negotiation.

I figured her point had been made and I would decide later what I would do, but my friend remained serious and continued. She said that while it might not seem so important to do this while I was what the world labels "young," obedience on this point now would help me to overcome the claims of old age later on.

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