There is Always Good and Bad

I started on my new chemo yesterday and got the results of Monday's MRI of the brain.

Barb and I were, of course, disappointed to learn that the cancer had spread in the brain. We were reminded that everything was still very small and very treatable. But, still it certainly was somber results that we were not hoping for.

It was also confirmation for us that the chemo I had been taking since January had stopped working. Chemo is not known for working through the blood/brain barrier in general. But it does seem to at least slow things down. Cancer spread to the brain is a very difficult thing.

So it was good and bad. Bad news to hear. But it was still good to know that it's treatable. I'm not done yet. One thing I believe, in my faith, is that we are meant to fight, to live, to do everything we can to be strong and survive, no matter what.

I think that's a part of every religion worldwide. Actually I believe that religions worldwide have much more in common than they have differences. Well except for a few odd ones that worship Kermit the Frog or something.

Unfortunately man (and woman) seems to corrupt the basic essence of the word of God. There is no doubt in my mind that Muslims have corrupted the Koran to teach that suicide and murder would be rewarded by God.

Throughout history man has used faith to control the populace. We have often selfishly gotten in the way of the purity of God's message. We have often corrupted the word of God for our own selfish goals.

The monarchies of England used the churches to help exert control over the citizens. It's what led to the flight to the new continent America and helped form our country in search of freedom of religion.

It's obvious that life is filled with complexities, with good and with bad. I don't know why people are born, or why they die. I don't understand why everything on this planet depends on feeding on something else on this planet to survive. There are a lot of things that I don't understand.

But, I don't worry about what I don't understand because of my faith. My faith tells me to accept these realities and do the best that I can.

Jesus is the son of God, the King of Kings. Yet he was born and lived impoverished, a simple man. He suffered and faced a horrible, excruciating death. He faced it all with dignity and courage.

I take a lesson from this.

I don't get depressed about my cancer. I know that there are going to be challenges in life. I try to do the best I can, as hard as it can be, to stand-up to it, to fight it, to face it with dignity and courage.

I won't give up. Sooner or later God will call all of us. When God calls me, I will go.