Serendiptiy

Serendipity - the faculty or phenomenon of finding valuable or agreeable things not sought for.

I had some people come over to quote me on windows for the house this evening.  We had a variety of folks show up, and lots of interesting discussion about windows.  As they made their way through it became increasingly evident that this was going to turn into a DIY project.  But that last guy...

He told me that he stopped to get something to eat, almost sent another guy over, and when he got here he saw the last guy (competition) leave, and that normally means he is out, due to price.  But something told him to come, and then even when he saw his under-priced competition, to knock on the door.  So we talked for a few minutes and got down to business on the windows.   A handful of windows into it he shared that he had lost his 1st wife to cancer.   I must admit that the shameful cynic in me was rolling my imagination's eyes and asking, "are we really going to go here, and go for the pity sale...?"   So after two sentences I had to ask,  "If you don't mind me asking, what kind of cancer did she die of?"  As it turns out she died of NSCLC, way too young, with 4 kids at home just after he returned from Afghanistan for his retirement from the Marines after 20 years of service.

As I listened to that story, and also the story of how his daughter was previously healed of autism, years before that, I was blown away.   He admitted that his windows were likely not the price point I was going to want, and we conceded to not talk about windows anymore, and turned this into a faith conversation.  As it turns out Glen is a man of very strong faith.   He and his wife prayed over their daughter, discovered several things about how unforgiveness can block a healing, and after resolving that, wound up seeing the miracle of their daughter blow the medical industry away by winding up being healed of autism.  The doctor apparently admitted that she saw no autism, but could not publicly admit that due to the fact that it would ruin her career.

I eventually shared that I was diagnosed with stage 4 NSCLC and was healed of cancer, but still have this tumor, back in February through so much prayer, and God's awesome grace.   I went on to tell my "blessed plight story", and shared that we are starting a cancer support ministry at Great Bridge Presbyterian church on 4/25, which will be mainly focused on prayer and community.

Glen went on to tell me the rest of his incredible story, shared his testimony, and we got into some deeper discussion.   He asked what would you say to someone, or the family of someone, who followed God and did it all right, but was not healed?   Brilliant question that has been haunting me, because the reality is that healing here on earth does not always happen.  The truth is that God calls people home sometimes.  I have asked for this answer in prayer knowing that the question will arise at some point.  While we did not come up with any definitive answers, we did wind up talking about it quite a bit.   We discussed [Mark 11:25] where Jesus says, if you have something against your brother, leave the alter and go fix it.  We discussed that some people do not feel worthy and are not able to truly receive a healing, which ironically could be viewed as a form of pride when you think about it.  Beyond that, we discussed those that just won't or can't believe and receive.

So, we may have serendipitously (is that really a word?) backed our way into the answer...hold nothing against your brother, discard your pride and receive, and of course you have to believe.  Without these ingredients I do not believe that healing is nearly as likely, if at all.  Yet even with them, the reality is that it is actually still possible that no healing will take place in God's sovereign plan.   So the answer to the question is if there was a complete surrender to God's plan and still no healing took place, God has something greater in mind than the earthly healing.  How often this is the case, no one will ever know since we only have our perspective to lean on with regard to the people who are suffering.  I cannot imagine myself saying that to anyone, since it shows so little sympathy and/or empathy here on earth, but that is the raw truth.  Perhaps the important thing is to just follow the greatest two commandments for those left behind and worry less about explaining why God allowed something to happen to them.   When someone does go home to heaven...Love God and love your neighbor.  There are too many unknowns to do anything otherwise with our limited human perspective.    

When death does occur, sometimes God uses a death to make huge impact for His purpose.  I am reminded of some of the great cancer funds that are out there like Jimmy Valvano's for example.  The bright side of his death is the huge success of his fund and what it does for so many.  Quite possibly, there is some comfort in remembering that this life is truly a vapor [James 4:14] if you are a saved Christian.  When you take an eternal focus on life, you suddenly will not see the here an now as your everything, but seem to focus on eternity with Jesus as your everything.  To do otherwise would be idolatry in the form of placing a higher priority on your life here and ignoring the big picture of eternity.  We are immortal as Christians.  We are never going to die.   Our earth suits will decay and eventually perish, but our souls will live forever in perfection, together, in heaven.   The second that our earth suit dies, is the second that we will be before Jesus, beyond time, beyond pain, beyond this fallen world.  I have told people through my blessed plight that I was not afraid to die.  I was not, and I still am not.  If God wants me to go home, I am going home.  If God wants me to stay here and do more, I am going to do that.  I do not want to die, and hope that I will not die for a long time, but I also fully surrender to Him.  To save ones life, one must lose it.  [Mat 16:25]  A harsh reality check in priorities and perspective for us, to be sure, but it is truth.  God is sovereign and calls us to be His, completely, no matter our circumstance.  As I listened to Glen, I was reminded that he has an eternal focus.  Even though he has been through war as a Marine, the death of a spouse, dealth with autism in one of his kids, he continues to honor God.  In doing so, he also honors his first wife who has gone home to heaven, he honors and takes good care of his kids today, and he is very focused on his faith and keeps his priorities well in order.  

So what does it all mean?   I have to think that what it means is that God is calling us to do a few things, as I was once told by a very wise healing preacher woman named Edith.  You must fully surrender to God's plan to be healed.  You must not hold anything against anyone, and you have to fully believe and receive.  It is so strange how this keeps coming up in conversations in which I find myself.  Glen went on to provide an example and say that he prayed over a co-worker who had cancer return after 5 years in the form of a large abdominal tumor and suffered severe anxiety because of that.  However, before he prayed over him he asked, "So do you believe the Jesus can do this?  This is about your faith in God, and not me.  I can't put my faith on you beyond praying for you.  I am just a conduit, but you must believe before it will happen."  He told the man he would have the surgery, and it would all be fine.  The doctors took the tumor, it was cancerous, and they sent it to pathology for more testing.  3 days later the tests came back inconclusive and he was cancer free.   The tumor reduced and went away with medication.   That one really hit home as this is essentially my story as I await this tumor to be healed for my 100% restoration for which I have been praying.

I was reminded of when Jesus was doing all of the healing in [Matthew 9].   As we will note, he physically and spiritually heals a paralyzed man, He raises a dead girl and heals a sick woman...in both cases, someone had to come to Jesus and ask for the healing with faith.  Then He goes on to heal two blind men and a mute, who he also heals physically and spiritually.   In the case of the blind men, they follow Him up into the temple.  Jesus asks them point blank, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?"  You have to love that.  Imagine if they would have said, "well maybe?"  or asked, "How will you do it?"   or "what are all of the possible outcomes here?"   or any other of a million questions we humans like to ask to try to attain some control over a situation.   They simply reply, "Yes, Lord" and they are instantly healed.  They did not try to take control of it, they simply had faith, believed, and also received the healing.

 I think my self-described A.D.D. may have gotten the best of me in this blog post.  :-)  Back to Serendipity...the answer to the question, "what do you say to someone who did it all right, and they were not healed?" is Love God and love your neighbor when they are sick.   Love God and love your neighbor when they lose a loved one.  Perhaps limit the postulation of your perspective, since it is only your perspective.  As is written in [Proverbs 3:5,6] look to God for His perspective and He will make your path straight.  Another favorite is [ Matthew 6:33 ].  If we seek God first, and ask what to say and how to act, He will provide the words and actions that are needed.

So, I prayed over Glen, wished him well, and we agreed that his windows were too expensive, but we agreed that we will meet again, and he will come speak at the GBPC cancer support group.  I continue to be blown away by the people God is putting in my life.  Glen told me that he had been praying for 6 years to meet someone that was healed of NCSLC, which is what his wife died of, since 3 out of 4 people who are diagnosed with it die annually.  I am so excited for this ministry to take off and soar on wings of eagles.

#Isaiah40:31