When Will the Healing Come?

There is unfortunately no predicting when and if you will be healed.  If you know the Lord, then you know the ultimate healer.  He, of course, does what He pleases in the time that He chooses.  His actions are way beyond any control that you or I have.  Does that mean it does no good to pray?  No, I don’t think so.  I personally offer continuous pray for me and my friends.  I just don’t get to control when He chooses to deliver it.

Doctors are generally smart people steeped in all of the science that is available to cure cancer.  I certainly trust my oncologist with many aspects of my life.  Science certainly has progressed greatly in the cure for the different kinds of cancer.  Doctors know more now than ever before.  They prescribe what is necessary based on their knowledge.

Science is really not at odds with the faith-based community.  Nothing comes at us unless the Lord allows it.  I believe that statement is true in both the illnesses and the cures.  The results of the procedures prescribed ultimately belong to the Lord.  I am still fascinated with how different chemicals react differently within the people.  Very few reactions seem to be the same.

I was reading in the March 2, 2009 issue of Forbes about “spontaneous tumor reductions being the rarest and most mysterious events in medicine.”  Is that healing by faith?  The people in the article were apparently not Christians, but they were being healed.  The most recent event being my friend, John, who had a tumor on his spine “vanish.”

Miraculous? Yes, I believe so.  Miracles still happen.  Miracles happen in many forms that we don’t often think of.  It is a miracle that science is given a new drug that helps in the recovery or remission process.  God continues to unfold the wonders to all.  He uses Christian and scientists alike to accomplish His work.  He works in miraculous ways that we don’t completely understand.

Everyday I see amazing things in the oncology clinic with my friends and heroes.  I watch my friend, Ben, holding his ground with pancreatic cancer and keeps one of the most gentle and positive dispositions I know.  I see Chuck who has just recovered from colon cancer where his doctor said his cure was like winning the lottery.  I watch Mary and Sandra and Karen deal with multiple types of cancer in their bodies and retaining their joy and sense of humor.  I see Judi and Cheryl take on long term illnesses and not miss a beat in their lives.  Many people in the clinic still work on jobs full time.  I know I have left someone out, these are all miracles that would not have been possible even fives years ago.  Yes, miracles happen everyday and the healing will come.

Is There Power in Positive Thinking?

This positive thinking thing is hard to figure out the value of and even harder to implement.  Most of the people say that a person must keep a positive outlook in order to not only have a good mental attitude but help in the healing process itself . Is there anything to it?

Being a Christian, I try to run everything past scripture to give me a gage of what is correct thinking.  Paul tells us the kind of things we should be thinking in Philippians 4:8 where he states:

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.

Is thinking about these things considered positive thinking?  There is certainly nothing negative in the list.  If these are not the things that we are to be thinking about, then what does positive thinking look like?  I want to get the correct perspective because I have seen people look like they are incredibly positive and be so negative.  I know I don’t want that.

I like it when I think about true, noble, right, or pure things as Paul suggests.  When I am in that state of mind, I am seldom thinking about myself.  The key to this positive thinking game seems to be focusing more on others and their needs and consider their situation above my own.  I know that I have to be thinking of others more than myself to be at all pleasant to be around.

Is it as simple as thinking of others?  That does not seem to be right since I am supposed to be positive about myself.  We are commanded in scripture in many places to think of others more highly than ourselves.  There is certainly something to it.

Is positive thinking constantly saying that things will be alright for me?  To me that is awfully shallow.  Personally I would rather seek to have peace with my God and with those around me.  If I can arrive at that place, then much of the rest of life falls into place and studies show that your thoughts strengthen your immune system.

I am not sure that having a positive attitude and trying to “will” my illness really changes much in our bodies or whatever we are trying to heal.  The actions and decisions of God determine the direction healing takes.  But the positive, peaceful person is much more pleasant to be around than those who are not.

The attitude that you have throughout this whole process in a choice and most people don’t get that simple fact.  Most of the time we react to situations the way we always have rather than choosing from the options available.  That behavior often comes from how we have been raised.  It is a simple choice to choose happiness, but for some that is complicated.  I would rather rest in the hands of the creator and choose to be positive about the situation makes my life a lot more fun to live.

Anger Is Not Your Friend

This has been two days that I’m not proud of.  Something happened in my life separate from all of the cancer/MDS things that made me angry.  It was one of those character challenging events that seem so important at the time, and the whole event made me mad.  To this point I have not be able to talk with anyone to resolve any of the issues.  When I get angry, it tends to consume me regardless of how much I pray or give it to the Lord.

Unfortunately, this anger spills over into other areas of my life.  Anything that I encounter in my life that does not meet my expectations tends to set me off.  I get angry at administration procedures that require ridiculous repetition.  I get angry at the amount of time that I spend in waiting rooms.  This bad attitude that accompanies my anger gets aimed at all of the nurses and administrators that I encounter.  It’s not a pleasant time.

The worst reactions are inside of me.  I don’t have peace.  I don’t have my positive attitude.  I am no fun to be around.  Even worse, the behavior ripples through my body and affect my healing process.

Anger isolates us.  No one wants to come near and I don’t blame them.  I don’t like to be isolated because I know where it leads.  I don’t want Satan to have any control or influence in my life.  I know that I will eventually have the discussions to that will resolve my current issue.  I know that prayers to the Lord will help me deal with any residue from the discussions.  I know that my current anger condition is temporary.

The bad thing is that some people carry that kind of anger with them all of the time.  Somehow they get stuck in the anger phase in the process of accepting what has happened to them.  After the anger sinks into their being, they are definitely miserable.  All of those around them feel the anger and the tension and don’t enjoy interacting with the person.  These people have no peace with others, with God or themselves.

The ramifications are many if this kind of behavior and attitude continues.  No one knows for sure how much this kind of attitude affects the immune system and the natural healing process of the body.  Studies indicate that generally a good attitude promotes a good immune system leading to quicker healing.  Anger and negativity inhibit the very process that can make them well.

Personally I am fortunate.  Anger does not form the backdrop of my life.  Generally I am at peace.  I am grateful that God has given me this peace and I pray that you and all people with cancer would have it as well.  If you don’t have it, ask the Lord for it through prayer.  Talk with friends who can help you achieve peace.  If we choose anger, we are certainly no fun to be around and oddly enough you are taking steps to shorten your life.