You are sitting down to a nice dinner when you hear a knock on the door. That's strange, I wasn't expecting anyone. You open the door a crack to see who it is. He shoves the door all the way open and barges in.
It's Cancer, the World's Worst House-guest. He walks right past you and leaves muddy footprints all over your carpet. You are in shock. You didn't know there was any chance of him coming over. It was the last thing on your mind, but here he is, lounging on your couch like he owns the place. Who is this? What is he doing here? Once the shock wears off, you try to talk to him. How long will he be staying? Why did he pick you?
He just shrugs, rolls over and goes to sleep, snoring loudly. You start to question yourself. If only you hadn't left the porch light on, maybe he would have gone right past your house. The neighbors whisper that you never should have bought that welcome mat. And the charming walkway lined with flowers just encouraged him.
The visit drags on and on. The days turn into weeks, and before you know it he has been there for months destroying your house and turning your life upside-down. You are exhausted because he wakes you up at all hours of the night. He walks around in slippers and thick socks, saying that your floors hurt his tender feet. He has puked on the carpet and clogged up the shower drain with his constantly shedding hair. He alternately eats everything in sight and complains that your food tastes weird.
You notice that a few friends have stopped coming over, and you know that it is because they can't stand being around this guy. You can hardly blame them; you don't want him here either.
However, you also discover that you have an amazing community that offers to bring meals, help out around the house, and even drive your nasty house-guest all over town to his various appointments.
As time goes on, you meet other people who have experienced this terrible house-guest. Yeah, the same thing happened to me. He showed up totally unannounced and made me adjust my whole life to accommodate him. You discover that you now have membership in a club that no one wants to join, and soon you are swapping tips with others.
When he kept complaining that my food tasted funny, I got rid of the metal cutlery and started serving it with plastic. He said it tasted much better! You find that together you can even laugh at his bizarre quirks. After a while you start to get used to him hanging around, but you never forget that he is there.
When you are feeling relaxed and happy, you hear him run to the bathroom. Your quiet book and cup of tea are interrupted by his hacking cough from the next room. He is always present. Finally, after a seemingly endless string months, you kick him out of the house. You celebrate your freedom, but even then you find yourself checking the closets, peeking into dark shadows to see if he might be hiding somewhere. You think you hear him following you late at night. And every few months you get a message from him. He's considering stopping by again for a visit, but he's not sure. You peek out the window and think you catch a glimpse of him turning the corner. One thing is certain: your life is never the same again after you receive a visit from the World's Worst House-guest.
Cancer?!?!
This can't be happening!
What did I do to deserve this?
I have three children, a wonderful husband, and my beautiful mom depending on me!
Am I being Punked?
Is this my fault?
This could not possibly be real!
Lung cancer at 35? You have got to be kidding me!
Why me?
The diagnosis of lung cancer carries with it a great deal of blame. There is the sometimes-spoken-usually-thought question that lung cancer patients face: did you smoke? While it is certainly true that some lung cancers are caused by smoking, 10 to 15 percent of people diagnosed have never smoked, and another 40 percent have quit and were living smoke-free. Also keep in mind that the older folks started smoking when it was the norm (seriously, even doctors promoted smoking back then). Sadly, lung cancer kills more people than any other cancer – more than breast, prostate, and colon cancers combined. Despite this, lung cancer research receives a fraction of the federal funding of other cancers. And it boils down to blame.
Why me? Why did I get cancer?
Well, it must be because you smoked. No?
Well, then it must be caused by previous treatment. No?
Well, then it must be caused by a genetic condition. No?
Well, then it must be caused by lifestyle choices. No?
Well, then it must be caused by second hand smoke. No?
Well, then it must be caused by radon. No?
Well, then it must be caused by pollution. No?
Well, then it must be because you prayed to the wrong god.
Well, then it must be some sort of cosmic joke.
Well, then it must be punishment for mistakes in a past life.
Because it must be YOUR FAULT.
I don’t think people follow this line of thinking to be cruel (most of the time), but rather to distance themselves from the illness. I didn't do X, therefore I could never get Y. I'm safe and can carry on without worry.
Every day we make choices about how we live. Did you choose the salad or the steak? Did you ride your bike or drive? Did you sleep a full eight hours? Did you meditate? Did you exercise?
Of course we should make healthy lifestyle choices. But we are all human, wonderfully beautifully flawed human beings. And sometimes even when you make all the "right" decisions, life has other plans.
I don’t think people follow this line of thinking to be cruel (most of the time), but rather to distance themselves from the illness. I didn't do X, therefore I could never get Y. I'm safe and can carry on without worry.
Every day we make choices about how we live. Did you choose the salad or the steak? Did you ride your bike or drive? Did you sleep a full eight hours? Did you meditate? Did you exercise?
Of course we should make healthy lifestyle choices. But we are all human, wonderfully beautifully flawed human beings. And sometimes even when you make all the "right" decisions, life has other plans.
~~~
So, why me?
Why me?
. . .
Why does it matter?
So, why me?
Why me?
. . .
Why does it matter?
The Bible does not say anything specifically about the disease of cancer. However, that does not mean that it does not address the issue of diseases. King Hezekiah was sick from a “boil” (2 Kings 20:6–8), which could have in reality been cancer under a different name. So, although the word cancer is not in Scripture, there are conditions described that could very well have been cancer. When Jesus was on earth, He healed all the diseases that were brought to Him (obviously, that could include cancer) as a sign to the Jews that He was their Messiah. However, cancer—like all disease—is a result of the curse of sin upon the world. In Genesis 3:17 we read, “Cursed is the ground for thy sake.” The word translated “ground” is better translated “earth.” The earth has been cursed because of sin and all men die—we all return to dust—and the method of death may be from disease that is a natural outcome of the curse upon the earth. Diseases are not “punishment.” They are a result of living in a fallen world and upon a cursed earth, and believers and unbelievers alike develop cancer and other diseases that lead to death. We need to remember that, in the life of the believer, God “works all things together for good” (Romans 8:28)—and “all things” includes cancer.
The wonderful thing is that, even though in this life on the cursed earth we are subject to diseases like cancer, we have hope. Psalm 103 has a wonderful passage that gives us a confident assurance that there will be an end to the ills of this world. Psalm 103:1–4 says, “Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion.”
Does this passage mean that we are guaranteed that God will heal us of cancer or other diseases in this life? No, that is not the meaning of this passage. Rather, the same God who forgives us our sin will one day bring us to a place He has prepared for us (Matthew 25:34). His redemption preserves us from destruction, and then there will be no more curse and no more disease and no more death, and we will be forever crowned with His goodness and grace. The final victory over the curse of sin is already ours in Christ.
The wonderful thing is that, even though in this life on the cursed earth we are subject to diseases like cancer, we have hope. Psalm 103 has a wonderful passage that gives us a confident assurance that there will be an end to the ills of this world. Psalm 103:1–4 says, “Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion.”
Does this passage mean that we are guaranteed that God will heal us of cancer or other diseases in this life? No, that is not the meaning of this passage. Rather, the same God who forgives us our sin will one day bring us to a place He has prepared for us (Matthew 25:34). His redemption preserves us from destruction, and then there will be no more curse and no more disease and no more death, and we will be forever crowned with His goodness and grace. The final victory over the curse of sin is already ours in Christ.
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