So often we shake our heads or our fists, wondering what’s wrong with God. We’ve asked him for help - to take away some pain or to help us achieve a goal - and yet the opposite has happened.“Lord,” I prayed “please let this lump be benign.” Then I was told “You have Stage 3 Breast Cancer.”
Wait a minute here, I asked God for help. I had been clear and it was a straight line between me and health. This shouldn't be hard for him. After all, God had cured a lot of people and brought some back from the dead. Even the Cancer Centers of America can’t do that! So what had happened? Was his Prayer Mail Box full? Why didn’t he answer my prayer?
Now as I look back from the perspective of several years, I see the flaws in my thinking . First, prayers were answered. Taking the journey through cancer, I received gifts along the way. I learned new coping skills, deepened some relationships, began new friendships, and had the opportunity to help people.
Second, and maybe most importantly, there was a flaw with my geometry. I believed that I was the first point along the route - that I was at the center of the universe. Now when I pray, I remind myself of three things:
- The shortest distance between two points is a straight line
- There are gifts and answered prayers along that line
- The point in the middle isn’t me
4 comments:
Your insight always blows me away! I learn something every time I read what you have written, whether it is your book or your blog.
Carol, I think that it's wonderful what you are doing with helping others with your experience. I imagine it is also therapeutic for you as well. I have been inspired by you every since I met you and Nancy S. I have never known someone such a short time, and that had that much impact on me. I still miss her, but it also made me appreciate you more and my life. That our time is short here, and it's up to us to make it count. I remember going to Springfield with you that one time for a treatment. What I saw there will be forever etched in my memory. I did not see sadness or fear in the other people there or in you. I saw people bravely facing their trials and smiling anyway. It keeps me going a lot when I start to feel down or overwhelmed with my illnesses. I remember and feel strong again. Thank you for being my friend and an inspiration. Love Tracy.
Carol, I think that it's wonderful what you are doing with helping others with your experience. I imagine it is also therapeutic for you as well. I have been inspired by you every since I met you and Nancy S. I have never known someone such a short time, and that had that much impact on me. I still miss her, but it also made me appreciate you more and my life. That our time is short here, and it's up to us to make it count. I remember going to Springfield with you that one time for a treatment. What I saw there will be forever etched in my memory. I did not see sadness or fear in the other people there or in you. I saw people bravely facing their trials and smiling anyway. It keeps me going a lot when I start to feel down or overwhelmed with my illnesses. I remember and feel strong again. Thank you for being my friend and an inspiration. Love Tracy.
Carol, I think that it's wonderful what you are doing with helping others with your experience. I imagine it is also therapeutic for you as well. I have been inspired by you every since I met you and Nancy S. I have never known someone such a short time, and that had that much impact on me. I still miss her, but it also made me appreciate you more and my life. That our time is short here, and it's up to us to make it count. I remember going to Springfield with you that one time for a treatment. What I saw there will be forever etched in my memory. I did not see sadness or fear in the other people there or in you. I saw people bravely facing their trials and smiling anyway. It keeps me going a lot when I start to feel down or overwhelmed with my illnesses. I remember and feel strong again. Thank you for being my friend and an inspiration. Love Tracy.
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