The three previous tests had all been negative, so I told Bonnie to go to her planned golf outing with Barb. We kissed as I left for my appointment; then, just as I was ready to drive away, Bonnie signaled for me to wait. I got out of the car as she approached. We held hands and she prayed with me.
Before putting on my hospital gown in preparation for another follow-up cystoscopy, I took a few moments to pray. “Dear Lord,” I began. “Give me the patience and courage I may need today and please strengthen my faith.”
It turned out that patience and courage were indeed going to be necessary, and my faith would be strengthened in unimagined ways.
“It looks like there are a few new lesions,” my urologist explained. “We will have to do a biopsy to see just what we are dealing with. Perhaps we can get by with another round of BCG.”
Everyone has their way of processing bad news. Some people immediately slip into depression, questioning, “Why, God, is this happening.” Others switch into problem-solving mode.
My option in this instance, after praying about it, was to slip into my golf shoes and head for the driving range. Smacking a hundred golf balls seemed to be a great way to relieve tension.
One of the best ways to handle bad news is to bring good news to someone else. Before heading off for the golf course, I decided to drop off a care package to a neighbor who was recovering from shoulder surgery. As I approached her garage, I was greeted by her teenage daughter who, when she saw the casserole and cookies I was carrying, broke into a heart-warming smile. When I pulled out a large jar of ketchup that Bonnie had dressed up with a ribbon, the daughter started laughing. “You really know my mom!”
After two hours at the golf course, I returned home to start writing this blog. I believe Bonnie and I have been called to help people find answers in God’s Word, so I wanted to see what answers might be available for me. I opened Bible Gateway and saw the comforting words from the twenty-third Psalm:
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:1-4 (NIV)
When Bonnie returned home, I told her the test result. She was heartbroken that she had not been with me, but I assured her my time alone had been helpful. We hugged and prayed.
Bon’s golf buddy had texted to ask how my test had gone. When Bon called to tell her, Barb became one of those earthly angels we turn to in times of trouble.
The next morning, Bonnie awakened singing the Cole Porter song “Friendship.” Some of you old-timers may recall the lyrics: “If you’re ever in a jam, here I am. If you’re ever in a mess, S.O.S.”
“That’s my favorite hymn, this morning,” Bonnie declared.
Although it isn’t written quite that way in the Bible, God promises, “If you’re ever in a jam, here I AM.” And as we went through the day, God seemed to be telling us, “I heard your S.O.S.”
According to my calendar, my Sister Shirley was scheduled for a bone density test at 11 AM. However, when Shirley and Bonnie went into the hospital to sign in for the appointment, the receptionist advised them the appointment was for Friday, not Thursday. He offered to look for an appointment later in the day, but Bonnie decided it would be better to return on Friday.
We had planned to go to lunch, so our lunch became brunch. We arrived at Ruby’s Diner about an hour earlier than we had planned. As a result, we ended up sitting across from three women that would not have been there if we had arrived as scheduled. As we ate, we noticed one of the women glancing in our direction and smiling.
“I think I’ve met that lady,” Bonnie whispered. “But I can’t remember where.”
After we paid the bill, one of the women, Susan, said to Bonnie, “I know you, but I can’t remember where we met.” Bonnie offered some clues as to where they may have met, but nothing seemed to click. But when Bonnie mentioned to Susan that we live in Trabuco Canyon, Susan exclaimed, “My daughter and son-in-law live in Trabuco Canyon.” She then gave their address — they live just up the street from Bonnie and me, and I was just in their house last week. (But Susan and Bonnie had not, as far as they could discern, ever met.)
This meeting proved to be an inexplicably moving spiritual experience for Bonnie. Bonnie and Susan spoke at length about their life experiences, their interests, and their walk with the Lord. When Bonnie quietly mentioned my cancer, Susan said she was active in several prayer groups and would add me to the prayer list. The more prayers, the better!
At one point, Barbara, one of the other women asked each of us what our favorite Bible verse is. Bonnie said, “John 3:16, and recounted growing up under difficult circumstances, but being encouraged by a plaque with John 3:16 on her mother’s bedroom wall.
I smiled inwardly as I thought of the significance of my favorite verse: Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6.
We said our goodbyes, then took Shirley back to her place, I was removing her walker from the trunk when a woman who had pulled in behind us started waving at me. “I love your license plate!” she shouted. “JC(Heart)EWE, Jesus Christ does love you!”
I smiled at her, then asked Bonnie to take one of our olive-wood crosses to her. When Bonnie gave her the cross, the woman, who is a jazz singer, handed her a CD. Never the shy one when it comes to asking for prayer, Bonnie asked the woman to pray for me. She raised her hands toward the sky and prayed for several minutes. A few minutes later, when I went over to thank her, the woman laid hands on me and prayed for a complete recovery.
Now, you may be one of those who believe in coincidences. I believe, as someone whose name I cannot recall once said, “Coincidence is God’s way of remaining anonymous.”
To finish this story, I need to share the verse that was on Bible Gateway as I started to write this evening:
I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 (NLT)
When you are facing bad news and looking for hope, the best place to look is to the Good News found in God’s Word. Pray, and of course, turn to friends. It works for me.
Blessings,
Don & Bonnie Sennott
Graphic courtesy of http://www.dialysistechniciansalary.org.
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