As I pack to head to Ontario tomorrow to meet with oncologists in Peterborough on Tues and Wed - I seem to be in a place of mixed emotions...I am tired - weary of this journey and weight of 'unknowing'; I am encouraged - surrounded by loving family and friends; I am scared - the treatments and their side effects loom large; I am sad - a bit sorry for myself when others seem in great health, and I remember I have cancer; I am, at times, content - trusting the pathway in this journey which is given to me.
This past weekend, we had the privilege of going to Parksville (up island) with 3 other couple friends from our small group. Our agenda was connection, rest, and lots of great food and drink. We went for a walk out on the beach during low tide, a beach that seemed to stretch on forever. It was stunning!
This past weekend, we had the privilege of going to Parksville (up island) with 3 other couple friends from our small group. Our agenda was connection, rest, and lots of great food and drink. We went for a walk out on the beach during low tide, a beach that seemed to stretch on forever. It was stunning!
It was an awesome day - a special time to be together. As we headed back in, I noticed a boat that someone had just left. As the tide went out the boat was grounded, no water anywhere near it. For a non boater, that seemed a little odd. Later, when the tide came in, the boat was floating again, and all seemed right with the world. (Pics below - boat in same place - with and without water :-)
This boat reminded me of faith. In this case, the owner believed that the tide would return and his boat would once again float. To a non boater like me, it seemed ridiculous to leave your boat so high and dry. Yet he seemed to have faith that the tide would come in. How often do we go through our days with faith in all sorts of situations. How often do we feel like the boat - high and dry - waiting for the water to return? The Bible talks about faith in this way:
Heb 11: 1 What is faith? It is the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen. It is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it up ahead.
And so I wonder again what faith looks like for me on this healing journey? What am I trusting God to do? Heal me? Protect me? Carry me? Comfort me?
Likely all of the above! What I know above all else is that in this journey there are connections I couldn't fabricate, timing I can't explain, and gifts I will be forever grateful for. So I continue seeking God, in faith, waiting for the water to come in, doing whatever I need to do so that I once again I will 'float'. Someday in the not too distant future, I have faith that I will once again be surrounded by water - my 'water' will be a body free of cancer.
Heb 11: 1 What is faith? It is the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen. It is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it up ahead.
And so I wonder again what faith looks like for me on this healing journey? What am I trusting God to do? Heal me? Protect me? Carry me? Comfort me?
Likely all of the above! What I know above all else is that in this journey there are connections I couldn't fabricate, timing I can't explain, and gifts I will be forever grateful for. So I continue seeking God, in faith, waiting for the water to come in, doing whatever I need to do so that I once again I will 'float'. Someday in the not too distant future, I have faith that I will once again be surrounded by water - my 'water' will be a body free of cancer.