Alas, There is Hope

Thanks to my brother-in-law, Kyle, for posting his comment last night and putting things back into perspective. In his comment to my last post, Cancer Sucks, he put a link to this video:

 http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2011/02/15/o-death-where-is-your-victory/

Let me warn you that you should be prepared to cry if you click on this link- not just shed a tear, but truly cry. I can say that I am in agreement with the man who is featured in the video. Cancer is also one of the best things that has happened to me. Despite the heartbreak, death, and destruction it causes, it also molds us and makes us into better human beings.  It tests our faith, causing us to persevere and mature to become complete. I truly have come to consider it pure joy. Now I know not everyone has or maybe can have this perspective. Not that I am special in any way. There are other trials I have endured that I have not come to feel this way about yet. But I wouldn't have gone to medical school and I wouldn't be doing what I am now had I not gone through that experience. And although I have reverted back to a lot of old ways and habits I used to have prior to having cancer, for a while it changed me and I know it some way it always will. I cannot imagine sitting down to record a film talking about my death like this man. And I cannot imagine his wife sitting down to do the same after the death. I can't imagine having the faith and viewpoint that these people have. Maybe they feel the same way about themselves and would say that it is only Christ through them. I don't know. But it's pretty incredible and pretty moving. I wish I could have that kind of faith and resolve in the face of almost certain death. But whether it is cancer or whatever, we will all face certain death at some point. And as he says God will still be the same God whether or not we are healed or whatever it is that we face. I'm sure that the parents of that little girl don't feel that cancer is the best thing that has ever happened and I'm sure this man's wife has days where she doesn't feel that way either, but in every situation there is something revealed as to the reason why things happen. Maybe not on this earth and maybe not for years down the road. It helps to have a reminder that even in my own life how much good has come from me having cancer. Again, not that I am special or better than someone who died in despair from cancer. But I look at myself and feel that it is nothing compared to the man and the family in this video. What a refreshing view of illness and of God and of who He is and will be no matter what should happen to you or me on this earth.

⁸ “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Revelation 1:8