The Brave

Romans 5 We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

For the last twelve weeks I have been working as a traveling nurse in New Mexico for an outpatient chemotherapy infusion center. I has been a profound pleasure.

Oncology has always been my favorite patient population. We often find ourselves, and our God, during the most difficult times of our lives. I has been my observation that when we are faced with our own mortality that we are changed, usually for the better. In Knoxville Tennessee, Denver Colorado, Santa Barbara California and Albuquerque New Mexico I have found a common thread in patients that are dealing with cancer. Suffering produces character and character produces hope.

You probably know that cancer begins as a single cell. Strange. Distorted. Damaged. It has a rapid proliferation, almost an explosion of reproduction. What you might not know, and what is the most unusual characteristic of cancer, is that it is one cell that has no programmed cell death cycle. Unlike all other cells in the body, the cancer cell will reproduce indefinitely. It can hide itself in the tissues, in the blood and in the narrow passages of the brain. It has built in mechanisms of protection, strong walls, hard borders, virtually impenetrable defenses, fooling even the brilliant immune system which contains one of the most sophisticated armies on the planet. Cancer produces its own blood supply and builds in sources of nutrition. It causes pain, has a particularly smell of death and for many it is life's final battle.

And sometimes the cure is almost as bad. There is a very thin line between killing the disease and killing the patient.

But what a distinct honor it is to be involved in their struggle. To be their nurse, to hear their pain, to comfort their family has been one of the most rewarding and touching privileges of my life. They are brave beyond measure. They are kind, they are patient, they are scared. They are grateful.

It reminds me so much of sin, does cancer. Relentless, intrusive, deceptive. This unwanted evil in our bodies.

There is a lesson to be learned from the cancer patients that is found in the next verse of the passage...

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.

It takes bravery to face all that life holds in store for us. We are challenged on every side and eventually if Christ lingers death will be the end result for us all. Life is worth living. It is worth fighting for. They have taught me that. I hope that I can be as brave during the storms of life as my patients are.

One last thought....one last question that must be answered in the struggles of life. What is next?

The Bible says, It is appointed unto man once to die and after this, judgment. Are you ready?

Are you sure? Life can be tough and without the help of the Lord it can be overwhelming and without salvation by faith in His grace eternity is frightening. You do not have to face it alone. There is an anchor. There is a savior.