I'm Storming Heaven...All over again...
Yesterday seemed like one of those days where you just need to know that life is timeless, that forces much larger than you are in control. Yesterday seemed like a good day to see tangible proof that God is present, even He seems like He's in the distance. Yesterday was a continuation of the unsettled theme from the day before. After my roommate Paul's father, Spike, passed away unexpectedly, once again I'm reminded that you never really know where the day will take you. I'm more aware than ever that I seem to be in the midst of one of those years where you really can't take anything for granted.
Newlyweds Stacy and Chris were originally scheduled to come down from Colville to help me move a home gym from the ranch. But after a few seconds on the phone, and in listening to the fear in Stacy's voice it seemed that what needed relocating was not so much the home gym, but a mountain of concern, worry, and uncertainty. A healthy dose of distraction, perspective, and beauty might offer a respite from the gathering storm.
Today, Chris was to meet with a surgeon regarding the results of his colonoscopy. Stacy is to meet Tuesday with other specialists regarding the results of her CAT Scans. Yesterday both Chris and Stacy couldn't hide the anxiousness or the seriousness of their health concerns. Stacy told me that this past week has been especially difficult. Local doctors have no clue what is wrong with her. But the professionals did speculate that she might have a type of cancer that feeds on muscle cells.
Imagine living with the uncertainty of that kind of possible diagnosis for a week.
Already this afternoon the news coming back on Chris's meeting with surgeons is not good. He is looking at major surgery. The doctors want him to undergo the procedure immediately. Post surgery he is looking at substantial rehabilitation time. Stacy meets with her doctors again tomorrow. She is suffering a great deal of pain and her posture, her outlook and her usually optimistic faith, all reflect the seriousness of these challenges. How can two people, just wed and only in their mid 20's, struggle with so many health issues? I could really get sidetracked on the whole unfairness of life song and dance.
As many of you are aware, Stacy and Chris have been on our prayer chain now for weeks. Especially today, Stacy and Chris could really use an extra helping of your thoughts and prayers. At times like these it's really easy to come up with nice Hallmark expressions to address the unexplainable. Some folks might label all of this as drama. Others might wonder if this is some sort of divine payback for some unconfessed sin.
I call bullshit on all that.
Life happens. Currently our society has a difficult time with suffering, tragedy, and especially accepting our frailty. We change the subject or change the channel. We can get really busy on meaningless pursuits when suffering strikes too close to home. When reckoning with such moments, we hope our dance with fate passes quickly.
Oh and let's face the truth: It is way easier to look away or get distracted and go to the mall or watch our President parade around on aircraft carriers with really tight flight suits, than it is to talk about the really scary stuff. You know what I mean. The topics we have no answers for-The ones that make us uncomfortable or fidgety.
I guess that's why I keep going back to an ancient grove of Montana Cedars and why I spend time in the heart of that secret place. I'm still reassured by this very "Last Best Place" my grandparents originally introduced me to when I was but a kid.
In moments like this, it's good to know that this sacred place lives on.
No matter what is happening in our lives.
Prayer Requests:
For ongoing health issues, please keep David, Mark, Cathy, Keith, Dawson and Janet in your prayers.
For impending surgery please lift up my mom, and Chris.
For the unknown, please keep Stacy front and center.
Prayers for Paul and Toots. For Josh, and Richard...and for all who are dealing with the passing of someone very close to them...
And thanks to the big guy upstairs for creating such a beautiful place of reassurance.
Dispatches from near and far...
...The most important link of the day. An indictment of the state of the nation...
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/24/opinion/24rich.html?th&emc=th
...Need another reason to stay up at night?
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/printer-friendly.asp?ARTICLE_ID=45313
...A complete guide to Canadian Horse registries...
http://www.northernhorse.com/
...Oregon house remains silent on important issue...
http://www.oregonlive.com/editorials/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/
...A museum dedicated to, well, you know...Dicks.
http://archive.salon.com/sex/feature/2001/03/27/iceland/print.html
...Two important looks at the current status of the war on terror...
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/25/opinion/25herbert.html?th&emc=th
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/25/opinion/25duncan.html?th&emc=th
...A telling story pointing to Canadian supremacy and the continuing slide of American jobs...
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/25/opinion/25krugman.html?th&emc=th
...Bush sidetracks the nation's attention on the Rove Scandal by nominating a Supreme Court judge...but the questions surrounding his administration continue to grow...
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/24/politics/24bush.html?pagewanted=1&th&emc=th
A picture of Lance Armstrong you won't soon forget...
http://www.whoa.org/charities/BooksfortheBarrios/prints/LanceArmstrong1mr.jpg
s/LanceArmstrong1mr.jpg
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