Emma Thompson is one of my heroes. She was an incredibly successful Christian Science healer in the early days of the Christian Science movement. She was taught by Mary Baker Eddy, and set up a flourishing practice in Minneapolis.
There is a short biography of her impressive work in the book, “Paths of Pioneer Christian Scientists,” published by the Longyear Museum.
One time Mrs. Thompson wrote Mrs. Eddy for guidance with a tough situation she faced with a patient.
Emma had healed her patient of a knee fracture along with crippling pain, chronic bronchitis, liver and stomach trouble, and nervous headache. Her patient, Mrs. Getz, took up the study of Christian Science, but unfortunately, later suffered from a mental breakdown. Getz’s family committed her to a mental institution and blamed her suffering on her study of Christian Science. Mrs. Thompson tried to visit her patient at the asylum but was turned away. She wrote Mrs. Eddy for help, and Eddy replied,
“The woman was not hurt reading truth—if error says that, it lies, and you know it, and you must establish the truth in your own and your patient’s mind. You know there is but one Mind and there is no other to be deranged. There is no deranged mind—know this and make it appear. (Paths of Pioneer Christian Scientists, p. 12).
“…know this and make it appear.” Wow. Those are powerful words, like a general commanding her troops and expecting immediate action. As soon as Thompson received Eddy’s letter, Mrs. Getz was healed and released. She evidently “knew it and made it appear.”
Are you ready to know the truth and “make it appear?” Sure, you can! Christian Science gives you the tools you need to follow through and demonstrate the reality of Truth and the unreality of any opposition to Truth.
Thank you Evan! I’m reading Mark and came to the following versus yesterday (Mark 11:22-24 NIV) that I think fit in well with your blog posting today:
22 “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. 23 “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
The first thing that struck me about this was the fact that Jesus is saying here that nothing is impossible through prayer. Prayer can literally move mountains. Do we really trust that Jesus is correct when he says that?
Verse 24 also made me think. Notice that Jesus instructs us to “believe that you have received it”. How many times I have prayed and then “hoped” my prayers would be effective or skipped that step of the prayer “process” entirely. But here I think Jesus is saying KNOW that your prayer is effective. So not only do we have to know the truth about whatever situation we are facing, but we also have to know that knowing the truth is effective! I think many people are skipping that second step these days.
Nathan Talbot wrote an article for the February 2015 Christian Science Journal that brings out one aspect of this idea. Here’s a link for those of you that have a JSH Online subscription.
http://journal.christianscience.com/issues/2015/2/133-02/no-healing-yet-silence-the-antichrist
Thank you Evan. What a powerful way to start the day! And, thank you, Brian, for the link.
Being in the “cone” of a hurricane warning once again, my thoughts
welcome this beautiful blog I turn to first thing in the morning.
Thank you Evan and all the wonderful folks who take the time to comment.
Thank you so much for this, Evan! I was struck by Mrs. Eddy’s words, “You must establish the truth in your own and your patient’s mind.” This is what Jesus was conveying when he said: “Ye shall know the Truth and the Truth shall set you free.” So grateful that through Mrs. Eddy’s discovery of the Science of Christ, which Jesus taught, we now know how to Heal!
Thank you Evan for this powerful and timely message.
Thank you, Evan and Brian and all! Last week’s lesson introduced the same thoughts throughout the whole lesson: one example – “Mentally INSIST that harmony is the fact….. S&H 412:23 I saw references to demand and insist and recognize in the whole lesson.
When I was new to CS I always demanded to see what Gid sees and almost always had instant hearings!
If, when, we band together consistently we could heal the worlds woes.
Thanks Patty! I missed what you point out was in the lesson last week so you have inspired me to re-read it. 🙂
I just had a example of this 2 days ago when I heard that my close cousin Honey was depressed. My son informed me of it and I fell for it. Since she now lived in California and I in New York, I tried calling her but couldn’t get hold of her, so I sent an e-mail to her daughter for her mother to get in touch with me since I had experience with deep depression of my 2 wives who both committed suicide. To make a long story short, by praying, my cousin called me as happy as she always was, buoyant with hope, glad to be alive and absolutely showing no sign of depression. WHAT A LIE EVIL TRIES TO OVERCOME JOY & GOODNESS and we if not standing at the porter of thought fall for it.
Thanks to Evan and all of those who have commented. We must always know and keep our mind stayed on the Truth and let absolutely nothing distract us from this.
Evan thank you, thank you. Just what I needed today. Brian and Patty your comments are so very helpful.
I had to smile at your topic today. It’s very similar to Captain Jean-Luc Picard’s signature line in Star Trek: The Next Frontier–“Make it so.” Again, Mary Baker Eddy spoke eternal truths.
Wanted to follow up on this blog. When I woke up yesterday, I seemed to have a nagging headache, the kind that usually seems to last for a couple of days. This time, though, thought was roused while reading this blog and the article by Nathan Talbot from the link provided by Brian. “…know this and make it appear.” As Evan says, Wow. Powerful words. I heard that “healing is a present possibility.” Then after thinking about that message, another followed. “Healing isn’t just a present possibility, it’s a reality!” Wow again! The headache just drained away. The suggestion tried to reappear but after reaffirming the message, it evaporated again. God is so good to us! Always! Thanks Evan and thanks to everyone who contributes their thoughts.
So glad to hear it! Thanks for sharing.
Wow! Just wow!