It’s so easy to get caught up in being in a rush these days. There are often many demands made on us. How do we navigate these waters and maintain a sense of peace?
“Life is without beginning and without end. Eternity, not time, expresses the thought of Life, and time is no part of eternity. One ceases [time] in proportion as the other [eternity] is recognized.” (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 468)
Imagine that…time ceasing! As I think about that, there is great sense of stillness, unity and serenity.
How do we recognize and bring eternal life in to our day right here and now?
I think it’s helpful to recognize that we are not on a timeline, but we are at one with the entire sphere of Life. What we see and know of human life is just a limited perspective and a fraction of the whole Life.
Christ Jesus demonstrated eternal Life in his resurrection and also in the lives of others whom he saved from death (see Luke 7:11-17, Matthew 9:18-26, and John 11:1-44).
He said, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.” (John 11: 25, 26)
So, clearly, Life is about much more than material cells and atoms.
Dr. Eben Alexander, the author of the New York Times bestseller “Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon’s Journey into the Afterlife”, said in a recent interview, “The most profound revelation of all this was that the brain doesn’t create this kind of deeper message of soul, spirit, or consciousness at all.”
Certainly there is much peace and realizing that we will never really die. Our consciousness and identity are eternal and permanent.
“All that is beautiful and good in your individual consciousness is permanent” (Unity of Good, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 8). So all the love and the good within us is here to stay.
How can understanding that Life is eternal give us greater dominion over time?
I had an experience recently that illustrated that.
I was late. My meeting was about to start in 10 min. But there had been demands at home with family that I had needed to attend to. What to do? I recognized that I clearly had a choice. I could get all frazzled and in a tizzy. I could give up this sense of peace and dive into the invisible pressure that comes from time. Or I could maintain a sense of peace, recognizing it as a God-given quality, and trust that God is governing me and others, and I can never be punished (or cause others to be delayed) through doing good for others. I opted for peace. I got in the car. I did not speed. I praised God all the way. I prayed to recognize His qualities of poise, grace, kindness, patience, love and tenderness that are always with me. I arrived at the meeting right on time, even though there was no way humanly that I could have done so. The meeting commenced and all was very harmonious. I marvel at this beautiful spiritual lesson.
We always have a choice. We never have to let go of the spiritual dominion and poise that God has given us.
Now, I don’t mean that we should be apathetic and inconsiderate towards others. In the example above, no harm was caused to others by the demands from family that I had to take care of. And the spiritual dominion and peace that God gave me saved me from acting impatient and rushed, which can often cause others to feel agitated and hurried.
I’m so grateful for this small way, and the big ways, that we can prove Life is eternal, spiritual and harmonious right here and now.
Spirituality & Healing 