Week four of radiation treatment for prostate cancer begins in a few hours. Last week I wrote about time to give thanks. About prayers to God. When God answers our prayers, we do give thanks. Don’t we? But do we always recognize when and how He answers our requests?
It’s OK to talk to someone who has cancer. We don’t cease to be people just because we have cancer. Life does continue. We are still the same people.
Yesterday, I began the third week of my radiation treatment for prostate cancer. As I was laying in the tomography machine, the 23rd Psalm began to go through my mind. It was very comforting. Peaceful. Reassuring. And yes, that is the Psalm with the valley of the shadow of death. The Psalm that reminds us of what we have to be thankful for.
My first side effect from radiation isn’t really that bad. But it is annoying. The treatment Radiation treatment conflicts with my favorite foods. For now. It’s only temporary.
My second week of radiation treatment begins in half an hour. One down – seven more to go. Or, more specifically, 4 down and 34 to go. And that gives a bit of a clue as to what “have to stay positive” is about. But only a clue. There’s more to it.
My first radiation treatment showed that God is awesome. That probably sounds weird. Maybe even wrong? I'm getting radiation for prostate cancer. And during my first treatment, while I'm inside the Tomograph machine getting zapped by dangerous radiation, I thought about how awesome God is.
The problem of the miracle hidden by miraculous healing. Say what? Being healed by God, through prayer, is a miracle. What else could there possibly be? What could be more important than still being alive when death was at the door?
The problem of healing … or not Healing. And being loved. By God. Healed or not. Thirteen years ago, I wrote something titled, “Healing (or not)”. Back then, it was strictly an analysis of what the Bible said. Now it’s 2023. I’ve had some experience with healing. And with not healing. It’s so much more real when it’s our own life depending on being healed. Or not healed.
After a few years of waiting, the wait is over. It's time to begin radiation treatment. This means it's time to update this series - Don't waste your cancer. Of course, like everyone else, I hoped surgery would remove all the cancer. But it didn't. And so, it's time for the next steps.
Do not be afraid. Do not even be afraid of cancer. Instead, focus on treasures in Heaven. I went to my oncologist yesterday. It’s time to begin radiation treatment. Now, today, I’m going to write from the point of view of the man in the image below. Climbing stairs into the clouds. Judgment time. Will he be told he will enter Heaven? Or will he be sent to the other place?
God and me - this life and the next 