December 31, 2015 (Thursday)
As a pastor, I have sat with many people who have had to adjust to bad news from their lab tests. I have also had the experience of being with loved ones in my family when they, too, received such news. In the year 2015 the bad news bus finally stopped at my door. I heard the words no one wants to hear: “You have cancer.” It did not come as a shock, because for the previous year and a half the doctors and I have been dancing around the term, “PSA,” (Prostate Specific Antigen). No one said, “cancer,” but I guess we all knew that’s what we were talking about. We finally did the biopsy which showed “stage 3” and “stage 4.”
So what are the plans? Medically, I will have a bone scan in late February and when the time is right begin receiving injections of anti-androgen hormones. Spiritually, I’ll be talking with the Lord about it. Practically, I’ll just go on with my life as normally as possible.
As has so often been said, we do not know what the future holds, but we know who holds the future. Nothing comes as a shock or surprise to God. He knows all about us. According to the Bible, He knew us even before we were born.
One of my favorite stories is about a ship in a storm. As the waves grew higher and the wind stronger, people were becoming frantic. One man made his way to the bridge and watched the captain as he confidently commandeered the wheel. The man returned to the frightened passengers and reported, “All is well. I’ve seen the captain, and he smiled.”
I will let God take my hand and listen carefully as He says, “Fear not, I’ll be with you.” I love that old song in which the Lord says, “Take my hand, and trust in me.”
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