Advent and Cancer

One struggle that many people share is cancer. The "c" word, some call it. All tell me they can remember the first time they heard it from a doctor's lips. To hear "you have cancer" really means "cancer has you," unless you determine in the depth of your being that it will be otherwise. Beating cancer is an inspiring thing to see. Even some who have died from it, as I watched them live despite it, fall into the category of cancer survivor in my eyes. Cancer came to rob them and left empty handed. The ones I know who beat cancer did it via their faith. The message of the angels is one they took to heart. In Luke 1 and 2 you can read the message of the angels to both Mary and the shepherds. "Fear not," they said. That's the key. Fear is the real cancer.

Advent is a fear killer. Advent means arrival. We are not merely to celebrate the arrival of Christ in history, but the arrival of Christ in our own stories. Advent is meaningless unless we each experience our own personal advent, ending with new birth. The Advent of Christ is a relentlessly life-giving event. It surges with hope and blinds the darkness of despair with light.

PRAYER: Father, I place gently before You every person I know and every person reading this who is fighting cancer. Heal them today and restore fullness of life to them in every way, in Jesus' Name I pray. Especially obliterate fear and any hold it has on them or their loved ones. In each case, let Advent become a game-changer, a transforming blessing, a new reality, and a direct experience of Your power. Thank You for Your compassion and strength. Amen.

TOMORROW: Advent and Divorce