Bosnia 1998 and the redwood trees

Some years ago, my husband and I had the wonderful experience of seeing giant redwood trees in northern California. We had seen one tree that was apparently just a sapling when the Magna Carta was signed in 1215!  So, I was especially interested to read about them in Janet Horton's account of a sermon she gave in Bosnia in 1998. 

In order to sustain her 'flock' in difficult conditions she "encouraged everyone to recognize how effective prayer could be as the armor for our hearts, quoting Mrs. Eddy's statement, 'Clad in the panoply of Love, human hatred cannot reach you' (Pulpit and Press 15:18-19). Explaining that love's panoply was an armor that protects completely, [she] pointed out that this protection from hatred was not just from hatred directed at you from sources outside yourself -- it was more important to understand that love protects you from hatred's getting a foothold within your own thought or heart."

She reasoned along these lines (paraphrased):

1. Just as the trees' thick resistant bark provides protection from pests and diseases, so the Christian virtues like compassion, honesty, a gracious spirit, kindness, and forgiveness...would protect each soldier from hatred entering their heart.

2. Just as the trees' roots grow laterally and intertwine with each other to provide resilience and strength through mutual support, so the soldiers could support each other through studying the scriptures and following Jesus' instruction to love God and their neighbours.

3. Just as the redwood trees never stop growing, so each soldier was encouraged to continue to grow in grace and stay close to the scriptures.

The absolute joy of this story is that while Ms Horton was preparing her sermon, some severe cuts vanished from her face -- unnoticed by her (there were no mirrors in Bosnia!) but noticed by the Jewish rabbi who had accompanied her on the Bosnian trip. See pp. 144-146 of Cracking the Camouflage Ceiling. Available from Hawthorn Press.

This is a marvellous book - and worth every cent of its US$20 purchase price (plus postage to Australia). You'll probably want more than one so that you can share its blessings freely!

Julie Swannell

Speaking with great authority

I just love our book this month and I am so grateful for the earlier blog posts from Joyce and Marie. Janet Horton has written eloquently about her experience in the military. She writes with warmth and naturalness and without pretence.

I am especially impressed by her ability to speak with authority. An example is on page 104 where, following an incident she 'knew instantly [she] needed to turn to God for a more harmonious sense of what was happening'. She then asked her 'very upset' colleague 'not to speak' because she absolutely needed to pray about having slammed a car door on her hand.

As a result of having 'immersed [herself] in the sense of God's omnipotence and omnipresence', she soon completely forgot about her hand until her colleague asked her about it an hour later. The hand was completely healed, much to the confusion of her colleague.

I am reminded of Biblical references to 'authority', for example the following:

Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.
(Luke 9:1, 2)

This  authority is still current in the twenty-first century. It is for all disciples of Jesus in all time.

Julie Swannell

Prayer makes significant difference

Janet Horton’s book opened the door on military life for me, and I now better understand and appreciate that model of command more. I love this statement: “Fair and square is part of the moral undergirding of the best of army life” p 131. Janet recognised the great good achieved by the military in protecting freedoms and promoting peace, and despite all the hurdles and opposition she encountered, she unfailingly showed respect for the order of command.  Having said that, no aspect of military life escaped the elevating effect of prayer in Col Janet Horton’s experience.  There were many practices and attitudes that needed revising and uplifting, and this pioneering woman made great inroads into improving standards, especially as they applied to women in the chaplaincy. This was all accomplished through her application of Christian Science.

The book emphasised the foundational need for moral courage and the importance of always being at a position of spiritual attention. This protected Horton from all sorts of attacks, including the day of the 9/11 attacks, when she was in the Pentagon and was able to minister to the needs of all the casualties without feeling any fear. There are many outstanding accounts of protection and deliverance, accomplished through prayer, a profound faith in God, and intimate acquaintance with Bible verses and stories. She writes on p 25: “It surprised me a bit that people found it so hard to believe that prayer made a significant difference. I felt so certain that God was willing to help if we made a practice of acknowledging his ability to protect us, no matter what the human circumstances tried to dictate.”  Examples included experiencing no ill-effects from being in a tear-gas chamber without a mask, defusing the threat from an encircling pack of coyotes, and effecting a complete change of heart in a chaplain who had hatefully spat on her.

Another theme which made a deep impression was the need for identifying what was in the heart. “Instantaneous self-awareness of what is happening in your own thought is critical” p 138. When we know what is in the heart, we are able to heal. The author tells of two young chaplains, one a Mormon and one a Methodist, who learnt from her how to give themselves a prayer treatment. Subsequently they had delightedly let her know how they had healed a sprained ankle through identifying what was in the heart.

I recommend this book to anyone who wants an inspiring read about a truly courageous woman and natural leader who relies on God and Christian Science in every aspect of her life.

Marie Fox