One week in: What we know

It's been one week since Chester went to the ER. In a way, we know more than we'd like - he has colon cancer, he has a possibility that spots in his lungs that are involved somehow (or those spots could be nothing). Some things we know are helpful: We've seen a hospital dietician, so we know how to implement a low-fibre diet pre-surgery. He has seen our family doctor, so we know how to support his pain management. He has an appointment this Thursday to discuss surgical options. We have an upcoming appointment with a naturopath who specializes in cancer support.

In many ways we don't yet have answers. We don't know an official "staging" for the cancer - if it's metastasized (spread) or not. We don't know if Chester will preach on any given Sunday; it's hard to plan. We don't know what kinds of treatment will be recommended or how long they will take.

However we know that "in all things" God works for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose. We know that nothing happens without the knowledge of, or outside the control of God - and we know how God feels about Chester: Jesus laid down his life for him already. We know that even when Chester is required to fast or change his diet, "man lives not by bread alone" but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. We know that we cannot add one hour to Chester's life by worrying about tomorrow. And we know that we are not alone in suffering on this side of heaven or in our hope of better things to come. We thank everyone in our church for sharing in this difficulty, just as we share in your sufferings. "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God." (2 Corinthians 1:3-4) It is inevitable to face pain, the death of dreams for certain outcomes or seasons in life, the threat of death, and finally death in this world. We thank God that our lives are "hidden in Christ," and we know the ending to our stories - Christ coming back, victorious over death.