We hear a great deal today of advancing age, of senior citizenry, of all kinds of plans for people's retirement from active living. The general expectancy of a person's deterioration with the passing of years is based on the theory that man is a finite mortal who is born into matter at a certain time, who ages in matter, and then is destroyed by matter.

This philosophy of life has prevailed throughout mortal history. But it has no real, permanent basis to rest on. On the other hand Christian Science, in accord with Jesus' teaching, is revealing man's indestructible identity as never born, never aging, never dying, because God, divine Principle, is man's Life.

This Science reveals one infinite Principle governing man and the universe in absolutely perfect order. Principle is God— everywhere, filling all space. All-encompassing, it expresses itself throughout all creation in one orderly pattern. Everything that really exists, Science shows, is individually identified as the exact expression of this perfect Principle.

Therefore our real identity is not created by chance and is not subject to the mortal theories that life must change and decay. The understanding of these facts of being completely eclipses the philosophy of birth, age, and death as actualities. Mrs. Eddy tells us, "Man has perpetual individuality; and God's laws, and their intelligent and harmonious action, constitute his individuality in the Science of Soul." ^{No and Yes, p. 11;}

We can know that we are not aging mortals. Rather than declining because of the mortal measurement of time, life is forever expanding in accord with Christ Jesus' pronouncement: "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." ^{John 10:10;} As we hold to the spiritual facts of Life, we cannot be made to believe that time can rob us of spiritual energy, mar spiritual beauty, dim spiritual faculties, or deprive us of the capacity to act.

We cannot be made to believe that radiant spiritual being can be hidden by drabness or dullness. The belief of passing time has no power to take from us the sparkle of continuing joy or the heartfelt awareness of perpetual good. When we recognize the only Mind to be God, our thoughts can never become confused or depressed. After identifying immortal Mind as God, Mrs. Eddy explains: "This Mind, then, is not subject to growth, change, or diminution, but is the divine intelligence, or Principle, of all real being; holding man forever in the rhythmic round of unfolding bliss, as a living witness to and perpetual idea of inexhaustible good." ^{Miscellaneous Writings, pp. 82-83;}

It's important to know that we don't live in an orbit of our own or have a life or mind of our own. We are not lonely wanderers in a wilderness of doubt, fear, futility, or failure. Our true being is not a haphazard affair, blown by the winds of change. True being can never wear out, slow up, or deteriorate. No foreign element of evil can touch it. No matter can be added to it. No decay or poison can develop within it. Our true identity can never fade, because it is immovably fixed in Principle's perfect pattern.

In the beauty of nature we see clear hints of Principle's unfolding pattern. One day while I watched a snowstorm, I thought of the perfect geometrical design of the snowflakes. Each one with six points, but each with an individual form. I noticed that one snowflake had stuck on the windowpane. As I watched, it just melted away. But what about the design? Had anything happened to that? I still had a mental picture of it. Then I began to see something of the meaning of indestructible identity. My identity, as well as the identity of everyone and everything everywhere, is included in divine Principle.

Our true identity remains intact, even though mortal suggestions would mesmerize us into believing that we are little fragmentary entities subject to depletion, disease, or decrepitude, and that our lives are destined to go downhill. Mortal thoughts, however, have no Principle. They vanish in the light of true self-identification. Mrs. Eddy writes, "Mortal thoughts chase one another like snowflakes, and drift to the ground." ^{Science and Health, p. 250;} But remember, our identity, untouched by mortality, lives on in the indestructible design of one indestructible Principle, God.

The Bible says, "I will make a man more precious than fine gold." ^{Isa. 13:12.} How comforting to know that we are precious in God's sight! Thus we are held in His love and cherished forever as His very own because God and His idea are indivisible. Our spiritual knowing of our oneness with Principle assures us of enduring vitality. It is evidenced as continuing direction and purpose in our lives, permanent zest for living, and the perpetual appearing of fresh opportunities.

This true self-identification is a matter of being born again. It means putting off old habits of thought and action. How important to know with utter conviction that our real being does not grow old! Identity can never become less than perfect, whole, and complete, because it is included in Principle's perfect design. True self-identification means greater peace and less pressure, more joy and less worry, and brings out an ever-expanding demonstration of good. We find ourselves dropping the fear of losing health or happiness, our capabilities—even life itself.

Let us then rest assured that our true identity in all its beauty can never be lost or destroyed. The divine Principle of all existence is holding us forever as the "perpetual idea of inexhaustible good." Perpetual idea! Never aging, never changing, never slowing up, never ending!