New Years Eve

Well yesterday was again a very interesting day of delays and directions from the Lord. Our day began as it has so many days with another visit to the Cancer Center and yes another long and interesting wait in the lobby. There was actually a very interesting exchange that took place between some folks that I would like to share. There was a slight built, seventy or so year old man seated by himself reading the latest Loui Lamor western, (or something like it), he had a look of total peace upon his face, there was no fear in his eyes, he was obviously a man of faith. Across the room a couple entered from the cold outdoors, they were bundled up and she was obviously a chemo patient, you see they are easy to identify. It's not neccesarily because of the hairless head covered by any number of creative adornments, no it's more the look on thier eyes and in thier face that identifies the victims of this terrible disease. Most have a look of fear, hoplessness, anger, or even despair. All commonly connected by this disease, and not one of them desiring to be in this building, paying to see these doctors to put poison in thier veins, or blast themwith radiation, or to insert one of the many hundreds of needles into thier bodies. This particular woman was wearing each of these emotions on her sleeves, she was showing all of the signs, I was reminded of the pharisees who did all they could to make sure that people knew they were fasting and suffering, as oppossed to hiding thier suffering and trusting God to minister to them. At any rate she obviously knew the man and began to strike up a conversation with him, she stood, he sat, she complained loudly, he comforted softly, she told everyone (unintentionaly or not) about every gruesome detail of her miserable disease as well as her treatment, he responded as to how grateful he was for his doctor and the team, and how important his faith was. It wasn't long but far too long before he and the rest of us were rescued by the nurse escorting this faithful man into the back room. No words were needed, everyone was relieved, I almost think I heard a round of applause that this exchange was finaly over.
As Dawn and I made it in to the Doctors office we were of course greeted with smiles and apologies for all of the delays. You see they had no answer, no power to make decisions, or any hope, just simply the same encouragement: "we will get you in as soon as we can". And that folks is where we are, once again we wait, and soon Dawn may begin her chemo.
Bottom line, yes we are still trusting God, yes there are those who have no hope, no faith, and a desire to make everyone around them feel thier pain, that would not be us. For many reasons some we have seen and others we have not, the Lord has chosen to allow Dawn,I, our family,and all of you,to go through this together, and yes it is painful, yes it is frustrating, and no we do not have all of the answers we would like. However we have learned more than we ever thought possible, realized how much we are loved, experienced the most amazing encouragement, and yes even the most discouraging of comments, but through it all we are stronger! And no matter what the eventual outcome we both maintain the desire to go through whatever God has for us and to do it with grace, peace, and faith, after all again I say that is all we have!