Readers of this page have heard me speak often of Judy Hewlett, our faithful "chauffer" to Love Field and back during our trips to Houston. Judy and Jim are our dear friends and fellow members of Town North church. Judy has had much practical experience with MDA, since she spent several years there--literally sleeping on floor--with her son Greg, who had a type of adolescent cancer from which he eventually recovered. However on Friday, Greg--now 35--learned that he had stage IV colorectal cancer. This was devestating news not only to Greg and his family, but to all of us who are his, and his wife Christine's, friends. Greg has begun his own blog at (www.hewletts.org).
With this latest news I can't help but reflect on how many lives in our congregation, and in our denomination, have been impacted recently with cancer. Our close friend Harrell Jones died of colon cancer in 1996. Kristen Day, in her twenties, died from brain cancer. Our Christian brother Bob Bagwell is likewise fighting brain cancer. Belle Homme had lymphoma, which (praise God) is now in remission. Two prominent preachers in the PCA have died recently from liver cancer: James Montgomery Boice, and Rodney Stortz. Then there are Susan and Greg struggling with this devestating disease. These struggles do indeed test our faith. It would be easier at times to give in to the pessimism of our age and conclude that the universe really is a hostile place where we human beings appeared strictly by chance from random forces that did not have us in mind. Except for one thing: these sufferers themselves show a faith and a trust in the Lord that INCREASES with their sufferings. Many philosphers pose the "problem of evil," wherein we are challenged to understand how a loving and all-powerful God could create a universe where an evil--like cancer--can exist. But for me the bigger "problem" philosophically is "the problem of good." If the universe is random, how do we explain the self-evident goodness of a Susan or a Greg? Why would goodness--and our appreciation of it--exist in a truly random and chaotic universe?
Which brings us back to the fundamental truth of the Christian faith. God Himself entered human history in the Person of Jesus Christ to not only demonstrate perfect goodness, but also to bear the consequences of the evil in a fallen universe in His own body. As Paul puts it: "He who knew no sin was made sin for our sakes." Thus, for Christians, suffering an illness like cancer is in a sense an opportunity. An opportunity to experience that same test that Christ Himself confronted when on the eve before His crucifixion He cried out to His Father: "Let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, thy will not mine be done." My testimony of observing this process first hand in the case of Susan is that the weaker in body she becomes, the stronger in spirit she appears.
Today was a demonstration of both the weakening and strengthening process. Once again we journeyed to Med City where as an outpatient Susan had infusions of Mg and K. This helped her feel better in many ways, while at the same time the abdominal pain and her fever increased. It was great having Shari go with us and help pass the 3 - 4 hours. Over the next few days we hope to have some conclusions to several issues including: more TLK or something else; home health care for periodic infusions; whether the stents are doing their job in preserving Mg and K; and whether home TPN for nutrition would be appropriate. As always we appreciate your prayers for Susan, and as you have time would ask you to join us in praying for all the folks mentioned above. Thanks!
Posted by John Dishman at June 2, 2003 08:51 PM