This Too Shall Pass

For me, it’s one of life’s little ironies.

For my entire life I have been reluctant to verbalize my feelings and thoughts, even to those that I deeply love.  Call it whatever you want: uncomfortable, shy, aloof, it’s all the same.  Fortunately, as proof that nature compensates,  I’ve always been pretty good with the written word.  I count the completion of my novel, The Confession of Mason Young to be a real personal triumph, not because it’s a best seller (it’s not), but that I was able to overcome the voice within me that said, “you’re not good enough”.

But when I think about how to say ‘thank you’ to all of you, I am nearly at loss for words.

All of the words of encouragement and support, all of the prayers, all of the expressions of love, the phone calls,  the e-mails and comments on the blog; it has truly been overwhelming.  I can’t imagine how difficult it would be to face this challenge without the uplifting that I’ve received from you.  It has given me the courage to face my fears head-on.  It has been a tremendous example of the power of focused prayer.  But most of all, it has been a two-by-four smacked across the head reminder to me of how important our relationships are to our well-being.

All of our relationships, not just with me as I dance with cancer.  As I thank God for all of the love and support that you’ve given me, I make a request of Him on your behalf; that you use this wonderful example of the power of love to expand and deepen the other relationships in your lives.  Reach out to someone who you’ve lost touch with and renew the relationship that you once had.  Extend forgiveness to someone who once hurt you and bury it forever.  Thank those who have been kind to you.  Smile at a stranger.

We’re all in the same boat, whether we realize it or not.  Our lives will be measured not by our possessions or what we’ve done, but how we’ve treated other people.

This dance has permanently changed me, no doubt about that.  In a strange way, I am starting to recognize that this is not all bad, no matter how it turns out. My hope it that I can use this experience as a reawakening and come out the other side as a better person.  As hard as it is to bare my soul, I feel that it is too important of an opportunity for growth for me to miss.

It is my fervent prayer for you that as you share in the experience, as you unselfishly give encouragement and love to lift me up with the spiritual strength needed to overcome this disease, that you take time to look around and realize that you too are soaring on the wings of angels as we journey together, all of us.  There is joy to be had, we just have to open our eyes to see it.

Thank you…