WATCHWORD:
1 Hear, Israel: You are now about to cross the Jordan to go in and dispossess nations greater and stronger than you, with large cities that have walls up to the sky. 2 The people are strong and tall—Anakites! You know about them and have heard it said: “Who can stand up against the Anakites? Deuteronomy 9:1-2
Meditation:
Lung Cancer? A Piece of Cake?
NO! No, not a piece of cake, an Anakite! The PET scan image on the screen was showing the left side of my lungs. There was no missing the bright illumination in multiple places. Dr. Gray, my thoracic surgeon, pointed to those points of light and pronounced the diagnosis that brought fear to my mind. “These are hot spots of cancer throughout your upper left lobe and have got to come out immediately! If we do not remove them, the cancer will spread rapidly throughout your lungs and into your cardiovascular system. There’s no other way to say this, we need to schedule surgery immediately.” We had to defeat my Anakite! Two days later, I had my surgery and we won the battle!
That scan and the conversation with my oncologist occurred almost 10 years ago. The entire upper left lobe was removed and, as I write this, cancer has not returned. It’s easy for me to recall the fear that I felt when Dr. Gray said that word, cancer. That was followed almost immediately by “help me, Jesus”. In today’s world, lung cancer is the most lethal. Left untreated it spreads rapidly.
The American Lung Association says that lung cancer surpassed breast cancer in 1987 as the leading cause of cancer deaths for woman. The survival rate is lower than many other leading cancers. The five year survival rate for lung cancer, men and woman, is 56% for cases detected when the disease is still localized within the lungs. But only 16% of lung cancer cases are diagnosed at an early stage.
I would have to say and I think you would agree, that my three-word prayer was answered. I do feel most fortunate and blessed that an alert PA in my local clinic, detected something and that led to further tests, the surgery, and the declaration by my oncologist that I was ‘cancer-free’.
So many of our friends and relatives that fall in this age category of ‘senior’, who often are faced with a daunting diagnoses, an enemy (an Anakite?) that seems too large, too complicated, with walls that we cannot climb. We seem to forget who’s on our side, who is greater than anything that will confront us on the outside.
In the Deuteronomy passage, we stopped at Verse 2. Verse 3 completes the story: But be assured today that the Lord your God is the one who goes across ahead of you like a devouring fire. He will destroy them; he will subdue them before you. And you will drive them out and annihilate them quickly, as the Lord has promised you. Deuteronomy 9:3
Note that the last sentence in that passage places responsibility on us, to step out with faith and bite the bullet, so to speak, by following all the orders of the medical professionals, taking all steps, all tests; the surgery, the radiation, the medication, and the admonition to rest.
Have you been in a situation where you have felt totally overwhelmed by a diagnosis to the point where it was hard to think, where the future looks so bleak that it didn’t seem to have a real future and we call upon the Lord as a last resort. The last resort is better than no resort but it’s better to have the Lord right there with you, comforting you, bringing you peace, reassuring you that in His hands all is well.
We don’t know what the new year will bring. We may indeed have to face difficult choices, such is life. But with the Lord on our side and the full knowledge that our Lord loves us we need not fear what may be around the next corner. We need to remember and be assured that the Lord our God is the one who goes ahead of you like a devouring fire. He will destroy them. That diagnosis is under His control. Be at peace. Amen.
Word to the Wise:
For me, Dr. Gray’s assumption was that my cancer was caused by my smoking as a late teen and through my twenties. For those of you who may smoke or had smoked when you were younger, the American Cancer Association recommends that you get a lung scan once a year. Early detection leads to higher cures. A word to the wise.
Prayer to Deal with Fear:
Dear Lord, You know that we live in a crazy and chaotic world. You also know my struggles in my daily life. When life gets to be too much, please help me come to you. Calm my thoughts and emotions and open my heart to your peace, comfort, and wisdom. Help me not to live in fear. Please reduce the feelings of fear and anxiety that plague me. Help me rest in You and trust You as I navigate through this health problem and the broken world. In Your name I pray, Jesus. Amen.
