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After 10 years of tests and biopsy reports, they finally got me. I’ve joined
the club no man wants to join but is liable to no matter what. I have prostate
cancer, hopefully early stage. The only thing worse than knowing you have
it, is not knowing you have it. You can live with what you know better
than with what you don’t know. |
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One of the things you learn as a minister is that a whole bunch of people
have big time problems. Most of us don’t know about them. Spend a half-hour
in the waiting room of any of the specialties in a health clinic and you’ll
get the picture. You’ll understand the meaning of “gut-wrenching.” Most
people endure their difficulties pretty much quietly. And most can find
others worse off than themselves. |
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I have to admit that the news (that wasn’t that big of a surprise) set
my philosophical and theological wheels spinning. Philosophically, I realize
that being alive is a life-threatening condition. Something is going to
hasten our exit from this world, sooner or later. We all hope and pray
for “as later as possible.” And usually, the thing you think most likely
to get you, won’t. |
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The theology of the matter is something to think about. I have evangelical
friends that assured me of their prayers at the time of my biopsy. One
seemed shocked to discover that his prayers hadn’t been answered. He talked
about Jesus having his time for everyone, and he guessed maybe Jesus had
other things in mind for me. |
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I said, “I don’t happen to think that way. I don’t think Jesus is in the
business of passing out cancer, or removing it.” |
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He was still listening, so I kept talking. |
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“I don’t think there’s a God or anything out there that makes specific
intervention on behalf of selected individuals. If that’s so, there are
bunches of people who ought to be way ahead of me in line.” |
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Of course, one doesn’t want to cut off whatever supportive “energy” may
be available as the result of caring and sharing of love, thoughts and
prayers. It can’t hurt, and there is some evidence that it may help. I
can tell you, however, of innumerable situations in my churches where many
people prayed for healing results that never came. |
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It might be nice to be a recipient of a “miracle.” It would also be embarrassing.
I have always thought that testimonials from people who claimed special
healing were both speculative and self-serving. To believe that the world
is subject to the random whims of a divine puppeteer requires a stretch
of faith that I don’t have. |
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What I do believe is that life is an amazing thing, and that life tends
to want to live. I believe that there is healing in the world, and more
specifically, within ourselves. How to claim this healing is not always
clear. We are fortunate to live in a time when modern medicine has given
us life-extending options to go along with the spiritual and mental gifts
within. That doesn’t assure healing, but we are far better off in that
regard than anyone could have imagined 100 years ago—or even 50. |
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Psalm 90, one of my favorites, suggests that “the years of our days are
three-score and ten, or by reason of strength, four-score.” You know, until
recent years, most people didn’t get that many. I’m pushing hard on three-score
and ten. It looks like I might have to push a little harder to make four-score.
The reality is, there’s no safe place. There are no certainties. We are
thankful for what we get and hope we use them well. |
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My morning mantra is “This is the day that the Lord has made, let
us rejoice and be glad in it.” My advice to myself (and others)
is “Do not be anxious for tomorrow…Let the day’s own trouble be sufficient
for itself.” I add a line from our Moment closing song, “To
take each moment and live each moment…” Each day of life is a great
gift. The best way to appreciate a gift is to use it. To follow my own
advice, the day after my diagnosis we were on our way to Europe to cruise
from Amsterdam to Vienna. We pray for courage and grace to deal with whatever
is.
— Art Morgan, May 2000
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