HOPE

For those of you interested...

I've copied an Opinion piece that I wrote

That is being published in the Kitsap Sun newspaper today.

After the Opinion piece

I give a brief report

On how my chemo and immunotherapy treatment

Went this past Friday.

Hope in a Pandemic

Hope is in short supply these days.  Depression and despair were already pervasive leading many to an overwhelming sense of hopelessness. And now a pandemic is added to the picture!

How can there be hope in a pandemic?  Our present circumstances are rocked by uncertainty…the loss (or potential loss) of employment and the ability to meet our financial obligations, the fear of contracting the virus, and a growing sense of isolation. 

This hopelessness is compounded by a future uncertainty as we consider the possible weeks or months in which this pandemic will continue to impact our lives and world...leading to lives radically changed by the brutal onslaught.  How is it possible for anyone to have hope at such a time as this?

These questions are very real to me as I face this pandemic while also battling an incurable cancer diagnosis…resulting in medical retirement with its lost income, the often debilitating effects of treatment and dark days contemplating my mortality.  Now, I face a pandemic with my high level of vulnerability as an individual over 60 with lung cancer!  How is it possible to hope in the midst of such circumstances?

I would encourage us to consider the ancient musings of King David in the midst of a dark time and what brought him hope. And ask ourselves if such hope in seemingly hopeless circumstances cannot be ours also.

A Needed Reminder. “O Lord, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am!  Behold, you have made my days a few hand-breadths…surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! (Psalm 39:4-5)

It is easy to live with false hope, isn’t it…placing our hope in an individual or our health or job or house or promotion. The result is often what leads to our sense of despair and hopelessness, because these things, though good in themselves and worthy to be pursued, are not what really provide true hope.

Why?  Because they are fleeting.  My life was flipped upside down on February 19, 2019, the day I found out that I had cancer.  My health, my livelihood, my plans for the future and much of my sense of purpose were lost on that fateful day.  And with them, it was easy to lose hope. In the same way, it can be easy for us to lose hope in the midst of this pandemic. 

The good news, however, is that day also offered another alternative…a needed reminder.  These things are fleeting.  They cannot provide true hope. They can provide momentary satisfaction and joy and purpose and appreciation, but they cannot provide lasting hope. Understanding this is huge and crucial.  Most of us can go our entire lives striving after such things that only provide false hope and thus continually lead us into hopelessness.

Is this not true?  Consider why you or someone you know struggles with hopelessness.  Consider why this pandemic has created hopelessness.  In what has hope been placed? Should it be the recipient of our hope?  So when our worlds are rocked whether by cancer or the loss of a job or a friend…or a pandemic; David’s reminder is sorely needed and can turn what we are experiencing into a deeper foundation providing true hope.  Is it possible that this pandemic could be the means of deepening our hope rather than stripping us of it?

A Deeper Foundation. “And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you.” (Psalm 39:7)

“My hope is in you”.  Realizing that his hope had become misplaced upon that which was fleeting, David reset his focus on that which was lasting, God.  A horrible cancer diagnosis did this for me.  It caused me to reconsider that in which I was hoping.  The pandemic is doing the same for me as again I’m faced with my mortality and if what I’m hoping in is a solid or fleeting foundation.

The pandemic gives all of us the opportunity to consider that in which we hope.  I’m not trying to force God on anyone.  Some of you have been hurt deeply by the church or struggle deeply with God in light of past experience.  What I am wanting is that none of us waste this pandemic and the opportunity it brings to deepen our foundations, to shift our hope to that which is truly lasting, and thus become people of hope rather than despair.  In what are you hoping?

I’d love to hear your thoughts.  Email me at david.frederick@thecoffeeoasis.com.

Update on Friday's Treatment and Doctor Visit

My Treatment went well...yay!

No surprises

Or heart stoppage!

Though nausea, hiccups and constipation

Have kicked in immediately this time:(

Thank you for thinking of me and praying.

My oncology doc continues to be very encouraged about my progress

And for the first time unexpectedly said that maybe we could beat this thing!

(Note: This journey has come a long ways from my doc at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance wanting
to switch me to Palliative  Care!!)

My cancer is rare and there are no case studies

Of it being successfully eradicated

BUT...nothing is impossible for God!!

YES!

Thanks again for hanging in there with me

With wonderful encouragement, support and prayer:)

Appreciate you all more than you can imagine!

Blessings,

Dave