What shocks us? News can be shocking. We hear that there has been another shooting at an elementary school. We hear that the economy is tanking because of inflation. We hear that a group is protesting something that we don’t really understand. And certainly news that you have cancer nonetheless stage IV lung cancer can be rather shocking.

Interesting that after my first visit with an oncologist when he said “not months but years” we were extraordinarily happy and overjoyed. I had been in the hospital for several days twice as they were diagnosing my condition and we knew it was bad. I had been in great health up to the point when I wasn’t. So hearing “not months but years” were joyful words for me and Melinda. Good news is great especially when things may seem dire.

Then rolling the clocks forward after 4 months of chemo and immunotherapy I had a second pet scan which showed cancer in my lungs had decreased by more than 50%. Well it wasn’t gone or eradicated but 50% decrease is still good news right? We and many others had been praying for the lung cancer to be gone. But there was also some other news that was good. They said we are going to take you off of chemo and just do immunotherapy for the next several months. And then do another pet scan to see how treatment is decreasing and holding off the cancer growth.

Continue rolling the clock forward and we moved back to Texas and have a new oncologist who is responsible for my care and treatment. When I asked him the prognosis question after 3 more months of immunotherapy, he said it looks very favorable. Your blood work shows that you should be very successful on immunotherapy. And that 5 years after stage IV lung cancer was possible - where before immunotherapy wasn't.

How do we take good news and bad news?  How do we take good circumstances and bad circumstances? It's all about perspective. Our attitude on the first news was elated. We were so happy to hear it wasn’t months. But then when I heard maybe 5 years is best my emotions were more melancholy. I was a bit sad.

Why do circumstances affect our disposition?

The Apostle Paul was great at helping us with simple language to help us understand the complex. And also help us realize and learn how thankful we should be no matter the circumstance or need. Paul certainly understood what it was like to be hungry and to be full. He understood how to have plenty and how to suffer need. Paul learned that he could do all things through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:11-13.

This verse get misquoted often. Athletes love to say this when they are successful. That their success is because of Christ.

The truth is all things we are able to achieve or not achieve are all because of Christ. Same for our suffering or benefiting. It is about the journey. Sometimes along the journey we get shipwrecked, starve and snakebite. Other times we have smooth waters, our stomachs are full and life is easy. Sometimes we get stuck with a needle to confirm we are all good and sometimes the needle stick is what may make us better. This is what Paul was saying. Not that the “all things'' would always be great. He means to be happy no matter our circumstance or perspective.

As I sit in the cancer treatment room today it is hard to see so many people suffering, going through the trials of life. You can see it on their faces and with their loved ones that are sitting by their side. Some also seem totally at peace. I said a prayer for them asking God to come close to them and wash them with His healing water and light. To give them the peace that only comes from knowing Him. For Him to come alongside them and comfort them with much endurance. I also thought that in any room with a large number of people there will be people that are saved and will be with our Lord in eternity. But I also know there are those that do not believe or know Him. This also makes me sad. This is true bad news to experience the wrath of the Lord.  I prayed that through this experience and circumstance that they will come to Know Christ. And may we all do our part to share the Gospel message so He can use us to help defuse His message and way.

God is so good to us all no matter our lot or circumstances because He loved us so much that He sent His only begotten son in atonement for our sins.

Sorry for the long story. It took longer than normal at treatment today to get the mad scientist to develop my treatment recipe.

Praise God for all the blessings we have and especially for the eternal blessing we have through Christ.

Count it all Joy!

Pat