It has been one year since I completed my last dose of chemotherapy. Every day I find many reminders of what my life was like 12 short months ago. I often read my thoughts from a year ago – typed messages I sent to many of you expressing the painful steps of this terrible journey. One year ago, I cried out in pain pleading with God for strength to endure the burden of pain and illness; today, I can look back and find much richness in the experience.
Last week, I made a business trip to Washington, DC and had the opportunity of seeing many friends and relatives at the Metropolitan SDA church – Lystra, Evo, Hazel, Adrian, Nedra, Wanda, Brenda, Edsell, Gordon, Bonny, Betty, and many more. To a person, the greetings went like this:
Len: Big smile.
Friends: A look of surprise and wonderment followed by a BIG hug.
Friends: “Len! It is good to see you! You look good! Boy, we have been praying for you!”
Len: (Bigger smile) “Thank you very much! God has been good to me!”
This initial greeting was then followed by the pleasantries of old friends greeting each other – the casual talk and the inquiries about my wife and kids. Inevitably, the conversation migrated back to the many prayers and longings for my full recovery. I have learnt many lessons through this experience but the one that lingers most is the generosity, love, and prayers of my family and friends, my colleagues at work, and my fellow church members. There is a generosity and sincerity of spirit that is often displayed among Christians during times of crisis that we can often take for granted. I have been reminded that among Christians “a friend is always loyal...” Proverbs 17:17 (New Living Translation).
During the mid 1980’s while attending graduate school at Indiana State University, I met Cheryl. She was an undergraduate student who attended our church while she attended college to obtain a degree in nutrition. A devoted Adventist Christian, she became attached to our then pre-teen children. I picked her up on Sabbath mornings for church and she often spent the day with us, taking refuge in our home during the Sabbath hours before returning to the dorm. We remained in touch over the years and during my illness she frequently emailed or called to encourage me. Two months ago, Cheryl, barely 40 years old and recently married, was diagnosed with liver cancer. Please pray for my friend, Cheryl because “… the prayer of a righteous person has great effectiveness.” I know. You have been praying for me.
Today, the lingering effects of radiation include symptoms of neuropathy – numbness of the soles of my feet; trismus – the inability to open my mouth fully; xerostomia – dry mouth due to lack of saliva; constriction of the esophagus and trachea resulting in the restrictions of swallowing and breathing. The oral deficiencies prevent me from singing as I was used to doing. But as I like to say, “other than that, I am perfect.” Perfect, because the God whom you beseeched on my behalf has written a new song in my heart. And for you and me and Cheryl, the greatest privilege we can share would be that of singing together the rich harmonies of the earth made new. The song is called “The Song of Moses and the Lamb.”
Love and Blessings,
