My earliest memories hearken back to a childhood home on a remote eastern Montana prairie (population: 23, which included neighboring farmers). We had no indoor plumbing, electricity, or telephone. An outside pump provided our water. And it had to be pumped! There was plenty of water underground, but in order to bring it to the surface, we had to “prime the pump.” Priming consisted of pouring water into the pump before pumping, as a dry pump produced nothing.

Isn’t this like many everyday experiences? There is food in the kitchen, but it has to be prepared; there is gas in the car, but the car has to be started before the gas does any good; there may be money in the bank, but we have to access it before spending. 

From a metaphysical standpoint, there is always an abundance of love available from our Father-Mother God. But in order to increasingly grasp the amazing depth of that love, we need to nurture a willingness to become more selfless and participate in the healing work of Christian Science, not just for our own comfort, but for the sake of helping mankind.

Trusting our lives to God’s loving care, obeying His laws, and relying on His guidance in every way is a start. This willingness and dedication, listening to God and discerning what we should do in every moment, “primes the pump” for some real substantial spiritual growth and healing. 

Jesus didn’t indicate that we should let someone else do the work.

Going back to the early Montana scenario—it was there where my father found out about Christian Science and introduced it to my mother after they were married. Their dedication included driving on a dirt road for many miles on a Sunday to join with a few other Christian Scientists to share a church service. Their consistent and heartfelt prayer benefited our household, and health was typical and normal. Once, though, when I did become very ill, my father, who worked at the local train depot (remember, we had no telephone!), decided to telegraph a Christian Science practitioner in a distant city to pray for me. 

I was healed before the telegram arrived at its destination. How did this happen? My parent’s fear had been allayed just by Dad’s receptivity to Truth and in seeking help and support from someone experienced in helping in such cases. Once fear was vanquished, there was no basis for distress. The Bible tells us that perfect love casts out fear (see I John 4:18), so if we are being loving and wholeheartedly trusting in the God who is Love, that is a healing combination.

It’s true that there is a great deal of comfort to be found in many Bible passages, as is also true about the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, written by the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy. But, like the pump example, in order to reap the benefits from these helpful books, some effort besides reading must be put forth. It’s necessary to practice what is read.

Christ Jesus said at one point, “This do, and thou shalt live” (Luke 10:28). He didn’t say, “This read mechanically, and thou shalt live,” or “This theorize ….” He certainly didn’t indicate that we should let someone else do the work, while we just sit by and live comfortably. 

Mrs. Eddy quotes this lovely verse from a “Psalm of Life” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow:

Results follow action. It’s a provable Science. So let’s “prime the pump.” Let’s practice and participate!