This Friday, March 13th, is my third chemo and immunotherapy treatment.
As it approaches, I have both
An eagerness to continue the treatments
With the hope that they are reducing or eliminating the cancer ravaging my body,
And some anxiety.
The anxiety comes from the two severe allergic reactions that I've previously experienced
And a real concern that it may happen again
Since the two previous reactions
Occurred after I'd previously had the drugs to which I reacted.
So...I'd really appreciate prayer for peace
And an uneventful infusion day:)
Now for a sober reflection...
We found out today
That one of our former foster daughters died.
The last time I heard from her
She reached out to me at the beginning of this cancer journey
To let me know she cared and was thinking about me.
It has caused me to reflect again
On the question...
"What happens at the moment of death?"
What is she experiencing?
What will I experience?
You?
These are not theoretical questions to me
As I ponder daily my mortality
And the possibility of this cancer ending my life
Whether soon or not.
We are so caught up with daily life
That we seldom take the time to ponder
The reality of what is to come at death.
And yet this brief momentary existence
That so consumes and dominates our attention
Is but a blip, is it not,
In the bigger, forever scheme of things?
To think that at death
There is "nothing"
That death is the end of our existence
Does not make sense
In light of the thinking and feeling people that we are
With an innate awareness that there is more
Than just the current, temporal physical
That surrounds us.
There is more.
But what is it?
What happens at the moment of death?
Immediate Intimate Relationship with Jesus!
There is a verse in the Bible that says
"To leave the body is to be present with the Lord"
Bam!
Immediately in God's presence!
Entrance into eternal, intimate relationship with Jesus
Joy and Life that I can't even begin to imagine right now
Mine beginning immediately at the moment of death.
But, is this what everyone should anticipate at death?
I think not.
As immediate, intimate relationship with Jesus
Will be the reality of us whose hope is in Jesus.
On the contrary
Separation from Jesus
Will be the experience of those who deny the reality of Jesus.
Depending on what or who we now hope in...
Will be our conscious reality at the moment of death.
Relation or Separation.
These reflections may
Seem pretty heavy to some of you
And even crazy to others of you?
But to me
Treading this daily, deadly cancer journey
And upon hearing of the death of our foster daughter;
They are incredibly important things to reflect upon!
Blessings,
Dave
Amen. Agreeing with all my heart. Such hope your post has! Knowing my sweet Mom is dancing, is whole and in Jesus' presence has brought amazing comfort. I'm praying for peace in your appointment on Friday,and for comfort for your hearts. We love you guys!
ReplyDeleteWe are praying for you as you enter this next treatment. It is hard to get painful news when you’re in the middle of a battle for your life. It raises your eyes upward, fixing them on things above. While the celebration of entering into an eternity with Jesus is our hope and faith, it seems inconceivable that someone young and seemingly healthy dies. But you are right, Dave. We all will face this reality. And knowing where we are going is a peace that the unknowing do not have. We are determined to share the truth with as many as possible while we have breath to do so.
ReplyDeleteWe love you ♥️
Ru and Steve
Always praying. Always loving you and all the family Dave. J & J
ReplyDeletePraying always for you sir and specifically prayed for tomorrow’s infusion day.
ReplyDeleteNice encouraging reflections. Details encouraging but beyond the immediate radar. Your perspective is treasured! Keep going on course. 🙏❤️🙏
ReplyDeleteI empathize with the depth of your questions about life after death. I feel inadequate to respond given your condtion, being so close to the possibilities of death, yet think about these things myself, often.
ReplyDeleteWhat I do know at the core of my being is that God is love. And this creation of His is in perfect order. It may not always seem that way to us, in our very limited perception or awareness of how it works, but I know it works, and it works according to a divine plan and that we are a part of that plan!
I just don't see how there can be "nothing" after life. We are on a journey, and I just don't believe this journey starts and stops with this mortal embodiment of our soul, a soul that was created by God and a soul on it's timeless journey to discover the essence of itself, the essence of our creation, the essence of God, and that God is love!
Jesus was sent by God to demonstrate and reflect the very nature of God, the love of God. Jesus, being the son of God has taught us in the ways of discovering His love through the actions and demonstration of love in our lives.
David, while you nor any of us are perfect (otherwise we may not even be here on this earth to learn the things we are meant to learn), you ARE a beautiful reflection and demonstration of that love that is so fundamental to the very nature of Jesus.
I have no doubt that when your time comes to pass from this mortal life (who knows whenever that is), you will come face to face with Jesus and all the love you share through the love of God our father.
God's creation, and all parts of it are too divinely organized, to simply beautiful, too made of love, and too "of God" to simply stop at some point in time. God lives and so shall we.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. It gives all of us pause to reflect on what's important.
We love you and pray for you. Please pray for us as well. We're all in this together!
I believe the electromagnetic energy in our body is our spirit, which is released when our body let's go. Our energy joins Jesus and the others who have passed before us. After my brother's death he came to me in his dreams as he was happy and wanted me to know that he was happy and OK. I pray that your procedure goes well, but when your time comes you will join your friends and family. You will be surrounded with love.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your journey with us Dave and the very sobering reality of death. Something so many of us forget to think about. Two, very dear to me loved ones, one on the edge the other now on the other side. It makes me think not about what will happen when I’m dead but about my impact on the world while I’m alive. I hope I bring inspiration and love and a grater understanding of connection to the earth and god. I’m so happy you were/ are in my life and I believe you have made a great impact on your community. I’m proud to say that you are my foster dad and I wish you well with this 3rd treatment. Praying for you!
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