F.A.I.T.H. ~ Firm Anchor In The Hope
Not all cancer survivors struggle with adjusting to and accepting cancer. But there is a percentage of survivors who feel alone and isolated as they struggle with diagnose, treatment and recovery. I was one of those people.
My post cancer passion is to make myself available to you as you sort through your experience whether you are presently in treatment or past, cancer free or not. My journey showed me there is a need for a support setting for patient/survivors and caregivers in which we can share our experience and ask our questions among those who are empathetic and understand.
There is another dimension to our journey that is often unspoken, the spiritual side of cancer. I am a Christian, a follower of Jesus Christ. I am over 30 years along in my pilgrimage. I had great teacher/pastors who taught and challenged me to live a life as exemplified and encouraged by Jesus Christ. I learned about the promises and power of the Bible.
My faith was my anchor as I went through aggressive chemotherapy, setbacks, illness and a stem cell transplant. I knew my God was with me and would take care of me. However, after treatment and recovery at home, I felt lost and confused. I knew God was still there but I was faltering in my trust and because of that I felt guilty and ashamed. I longed to unburden my heart but who could I turn to? I didn’t want to be told what I already knew, I wanted someone to listen to me and gently guide me through this tenuous place of restoring my trust in God and His sovereignty over my life.
Cancer is not prejudice. Cancer effects religious and non-religious, Christian and non-Christian. There is a need for a Biblically based support group. The purpose of this support fellowship is to meet with like-minded cancer patient/survivors and caregivers in a safe environment to talk about the spiritual side of cancer. The other aspect of this fellowship is devotional bringing our attention to the truth and comfort of scripture and prayer.
Our faith is the secure anchor in the sea of life. On June 24, 2008, the truth from II Corinthians 4:16-18 brought me comfort, “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (v. 18)
