The last scene of the movie closed, and before the credits came up, there was an epilogue on the screen telling what happened to each of the major characters in future years. I quickly subtracted the dates to determine what age each one had reached.

The next day, as I groggily turned toward my alarm clock, I calculated how many hours of sleep I’d had that night. Not enough!

Later in the day as I played with our dog, I found myself thinking about how old the dog is—in dog years!

It can be a subtle trap, counting. We might find ourselves wondering: “How many years before I’m on my own? How many until retirement?” Or maybe we’re thinking: “How many calories in that dessert? Carbs in that sandwich? How many pounds should I lose? . . . Gain?” Or we might realize we’re thinking: “How much money do I have in my checking account? How much do I owe on my credit card?”

Even in church, we might catch ourselves counting: “How many people were in church today? How many were there twenty years ago? How much money is in our church’s account? How long have I prayed about a particular problem?”

The list goes on and on. And all of these types of questions have implications: that things might not have gone well in the past, might not be going well now, or might not go well in the future. In other words, we worry that we didn’t, don’t, or won’t have what we need, won’t have enough (or maybe have too much!) of something. External factors beyond our control can determine our past, present, or future happiness and well-being, goes this line of thinking, and consequently, we’ll just have to get along as best we can within the constraints of the circumstances.

Wait a minute! That’s not true. Finite measurements don’t have power to control our lives. They can’t define or restrict our comfort, health, happiness, or accomplishments. Restrictions are boundaries, points beyond which one may not pass. But God’s expression, including each one of us, has no boundaries. His creation starts from an unlimited base and goes on from there. As Mary Baker Eddy wrote in Science and Health, “God expresses in man the infinite idea forever developing itself, broadening and rising higher and higher from a boundless basis” (p. 258). 

It occurred to me a number of years ago that society has lots of counting-based norms we are supposed to follow if we want things to go well. You know what they are—they are implied in accepted statements such as “You should settle down around such-and-such an age” or “We should have at least this number of members in our church.”

But we don’t have to follow these “rules.” In fact, we shouldn’t! 

Christ Jesus’ life provides an instructive example. He didn’t think about how old he was when he wanted to do something; instead, he discussed profound issues with professionals when he was 12 (see Luke 2:46). He didn’t worry about how many hours of sleep he got; he often prayed all night (see Luke 6:12). He didn’t wonder if he or his friends would have enough money to get by. At one point he even recommended that they not carry any money in their wallets (see Mark 6:8). No counting! Now, Jesus certainly lived in very different times—but the lesson is the same: “We must forsake the foundation of material systems, however time-honored, if we would gain the Christ as our only Saviour” (Science and Health, p. 326).

Finite measurements don’t have power to control our lives.

How did he do it? Christ Jesus knew God, his infinite Father-Mother, was the only source and standard. Whatever was needed for optimal peace and productivity was found in and provided by God, Spirit. Jesus knew our divine Father-Mother is constantly providing whatever is needed, whenever it is needed. Counting has nothing to do with it. In fact, counting can only curtail one’s estimate of the good available by suggesting it is a finite amount that might not be enough—or that might be too much.

Remember the time a large crowd came to hear Jesus preach, and then when it was evening the disciples were worried about how to feed the group? How do we know that they only had five loaves and two fishes? Someone was counting—and worrying. By contrast, Jesus didn’t count, and he didn’t look down; the Bible tells us he “look[ed] up to heaven” and blessed the food, knowing there was adequate substance and supply for all (see Matt. 14:15–21). There wasn’t any waste, either, for the disciples diligently gathered up the leftovers. Divine Mind is the only source and substance, the only resource. For everyone. Forever. No counting.

How about the time Jesus and the disciples had to pay taxes but funds seemed not to be on hand? Did Jesus count how much money he had in his pocket or ask Peter how much he and his family might have stashed away? Did Jesus wonder if he had spent wisely last month? No, the Savior knew divine Soul is the only substance and supply. He recommended Peter go down to the sea, cast in his hook, and the first fish that came up would have money in its mouth that could pay the taxes (see Matt. 17:24–27). Jesus didn’t mention to Peter that he should check to see if the coin would be enough. He knew it would be. No counting.

I had an opportunity to put this grateful thinking into practice recently. In Arizona, where I live, there is very little rainfall, and we have had droughtlike conditions here in recent years. Not long ago, after a good hard rainfall, I found myself wondering how many inches of rain had fallen. What was our annual rainfall so far this year? Was it enough to ease the current situation?

Then I remembered: No counting! I knew I could trust divine Love to provide whatever was needed for the optimal care of this beautiful desert. Human statistics are of no help or advantage. There are several stories in the Bible of drought being overcome by divine Mind. God never suggested to any of His faithful servants that they start measuring annual rainfall; in fact, in at least one case, rainfall itself was unnecessary in order to provide the needed water: “For thus saith the Lord, Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, that ye may drink, both ye, and your cattle, and your beasts” (II Kings 3:17). This was a good lesson for me to quit counting, and start trusting more.

It occurred to me later that we are only tempted to count when we fear that substance of any sort—resources, health, opportunity, continuity—is subject to variance for good or bad. In fact, we are only tempted to count when we fear we are material, and that our lives and experiences can be positively or negatively altered by the “rules” of matter or material circumstances. We might not have enough years, money, members—or we might have too many pounds, debts, or doubts.

Substance, the underlying spiritual essence of everything, is not material; it is spiritual, of God, Spirit. Because substance is an idea of God, therefore spiritual, it could not be counted if we wanted to. Substance in all its expansive expression as health, happiness, home, harmony, supply, perpetuity is always present and exactly right for every situation. It’s “one size fits all.” We never need to worry that there will be too much or too little of anything from divine Love!

So as you go through your day today, look up to the infinite good supplied to you and all mankind by your loving Father-Mother God. Be confident that you have exactly what is needed in every situation. When speaking of her own experience, Mrs. Eddy stated in Science and Health, “The discoverer of Christian Science finds the path less difficult when she has the high goal always before her thoughts, than when she counts her footsteps in endeavoring to reach it. When the destination is desirable, expectation speeds our progress” (p. 426). Count on it!