This Interruption Called Cancer
by Guest Author Mike Dellosso
Talk about interruptions.
Hey, I’m a husband and a daddy to three little, very talkative, very active girls. I’m used to interruptions. But on March 17 (St. Patrick’s Day–I’m not Irish) I sat at work with my ear to the phone, thinking I’m only 35, I have a wife and three kids, I have a job, I’m an elder at my church, I have my first novel releasing in June and am in negotiations for a second one, I don’t have time for this, while the doctor on the other end said, “You have colon cancer.”
Cancer. It didn’t exactly fit into my schedule or short-term plans. And I like plans.
I was busy getting ready to promote my upcoming novel, releasing in June, five chapters into starting a new novel and suddenly I’m seeing four different doctors, getting x-rays, CAT scans, bloodwork, colonoscopies, hearing things like tumor, colon resection, ileostomy, and planning for radiation and recovery, surgery and recovery, chemotherapy, ileostomy and reversal . . .
Forgive me, I don’t want to sound melodramatic or whiney but I do have a point to make.
. . . and my faith really took a hit. I was overwhelmed, shell-shocked, gut-punched. I was thinking, Why me? Why now? This is bad timing, Lord.
But nothing God does is “bad.” I’m learning that. His timing is perfect and His ways are perfect. Someone asked me if I’m angry at God. Absolutely not. Why? It’s not His fault I got cancer; man invited sin into the world and now we have to live with the consequences. We live on a fallen, sin-cursed planet and cancer is part of that world. I accept that.
A few things I’ve learned thus far (in no particular order):
One, there is power in community. My wife and kids and I have been so blessed by the enormous outpouring of prayer and support and offers of help that we have received. We have people praying for us whom we’ve never met. Heck, we have inmates in Nan Prison in Thailand praying for us. We draw strength from that.
Two, God is in control. I may think this timing is . . . um . . . not the best, but I’m confidant that He knows what He’s doing. God doesn’t make mistakes, He’s never caught by surprise. I just need to rest in Him and trust Him that He can use even this for His glory. And really, isn’t that what it’s all about?
Three, cherry flavored magnesium citrate tastes like you stuffed your face full of sour cherries. I had goosebumps on my tongue! And it is some powerful stuff. Wow.
Four, there are lessons to learn in every mountaintop experience and every valley we traverse. I’ve learned more about God and His ways and His people in the past three weeks than I think I’ve learned in my entire life. I’ve drawn close to Him and He’s proven Himself to be the gentle Shepherd, the loving, caring Daddy I see in the Bible.
Five, sometimes interruptions are good. This whole cancer thing has forced me to look at life differently, to see beyond the mundane, superficial busyness and recognize the things that really matter. Life is so full of clutter we rarely take time to be interrupted and just be.
And Six, I’m in God’s hands. I can’t fight this thing on my own, this battle, this foe. I’m realizing how weak and helpless and scared I really am without my Daddy holding my hand. I won’t fight this battle, no. This battle belongs to the Lord!
If you’re interested, I’ve been journaling my way through this valley on my blog, Wide-Eyed Fiction. Stop by and say hey.
***If you’re interested in hosting/interviewing Mike on a blog tour for his upcoming release, The Hunted, leave a comment and someone will contact you! -Gina Conroy
