Christ Follower, Husband, Father, Writer
Cancer sucks.
No, I have never had it but I can tell you it sucks. I have watched if fought from the sidelines. I have been a part of the support system, oh, I am in the cast but I have never had the lead and I would be lying if I said I wanted the starring role. But it has lived in my house so I feel well equipped to write on this topic.
So, I can say without reservation that having cancer sucks – for everyone involved.
As today – last Friday by the time you read this – is Valentine’s Day, I thought I should write about all things love and romance.
Then I thought naawwwww, instead I am going to take this to a place it was never meant to go – the Christians,
What?
***NOTE*** The following is somethign I wrote to go with a post I am doing titled “Why Are You So Mad – The Face of Intolerance.” Which is a response to a blog post I read this week which illustrates the frustration I have being called intolerant for my beilefs. For some of my other thoughts on the question of intolerance I invite you to read this post.
So, last night – last week by the time this publishes – I wrote about two deaths, my cousin who was about a year older than I am and my friend Mike Dorman – from high school. Well, really I knew Dorman in eighth grade but whose keeping track? I thought specifically about the memorial service we had for Dorman here in Tampa.
More on that in a bit.
Through some of the comments I received I stated to think about the impact we have on the lives of people around us and most of us will never know that impact this side of Heaven.
And maybe that’s a good thing.
Photo from Find a Grave
It’s funny how something that happened more than six years ago can be mentioned and bring to mind a flood of raw emotion that I really thought I had dealt with. Turns out I did nothing more than bury the feelings so deep because I was not equipped to deal with them then.
I am not 100% sure I am right now, either.
The anger, frustration and sadness, I felt in 2007 was at times overwhelming. The complete futility I felt at the news of my cousin’s death was only compounded a couple months later when I learned of the death of a high school friend.
How many times do we take on a challenge and see it through?
I mean really? For me, not often. Not often enough.
Today I reached the end of a 31 day writing challenge and honestly, thinking back to the first of January, I didn’t think I’d complete this one.
The challenge was to write at least 500 words a day for the month. Those were the rules. I didn’t have to write a book, blog post, poem, letter or anything that even made sense – I had several of those nights – the idea was just to get into the habit of writing.
I did it.
Photo by: pol sifter
Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Phil 3:13-14 KJV).
I am working through a month long challenge wherein nearly 1700 people have committed to writing at least 500 words a day. Every day we’re given a writing prompt; some use it some do not – it is not part of the challenge to write what we’re told to write just that we write.
Photo By: ndboy (Creative Commons)
Colossians 3:23-24
How many times have you read that verse and applied it to your J-O-B?
1? 10? 50? 100?
If you’re like me, you’ve probably done it more times than you care to remember. And the truth is, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that application.
I believe that I have been punishing myself – not for something I have done but something I want to do – for the gift God’s given me.
Photo By: James Cridland (CC)
God has made redemption so easy.
Have faith – you’re good. Accept his gift – you’re in. Trust what Jesus did on the cross – you’re solid.
It is no more complicated than that.
Home of the Writers Mastermind for Fiction Writers
BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH
On Writing, Ideas, and Making a Difference
Daily Thoughts and Meditations as we journey together with our Lord.
Mick Holt 