Some Days are Diamonds

*Excerpts from Bunny’s keynote address at the inaugural gathering of The Bigger C Encouragers, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, a fellowship for people affected by cancer, 

I suppose I’m revealing my age when I say I’m reminded of the words of that great theologian – singer John Denver –who wrote the lyrics, “Some days are diamonds and some days are stone, sometimes the hard times, won’t leave me alone.”

For me, today is a diamond day, but it was not like that on Thursday, November 20, 1997. 

We all have days that are burned into our memories—those days when we remember exactly where we were and what we were doing when we heard the news. I was waiting alone in a hospital room when the doctor walked in and said “Your husband has cancer.” I even remember exactly what weekend it was. The doctor said, “We’ll operate first thing in the morning.” I thought Sam was reacting to the shock of the news when he said, “Oh no, you won’t!”  But he added, “It’s the first time I have had tickets to the Auburn and Alabama game, and I am going!”  I suppose even on stone days we have to keep our priorities straight!

Sam had surgery the following Monday, and after that radiation, but the cancer returned and on February 22, 1999, Sam began what turned into an especially grueling round of chemotherapy. For a while it was nip and tuck as to whether he would survive  treatment.  When we thought the cancer had returned a third time, we were sent to Indiana to see the doctor who developed the protocol for Sam’s cancer and who, by the way, also treated cyclist Lance Armstrong, the 7 time winner of the Tour de France, for the same thing.   The doctor sent us home and told us, "Remember to live your lives."

Today is a diamond day, today we celebrate, because the man I call the Lance Armstrong of Tuscaloosa is still with us.  It has been 12 years and Sam is cancer free.


Reflections:


"If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, 'thank you,' that would suffice." --Meister Eckhart


"Live your life each day as you would climb a mountain.  An occasional glance towards the summit keeps the goal in mind, but many beautiful scenes are to be observed from each new vantage point." -Harold B. Melchart. 


The Beloved has given us this day of life.  Let us celebrate and live each moment of it. (Psalm 118:24 paraphrase)


For which of my life's circumstances am I especially grateful?


Am I remembering to live my life? 


What might I do to bring life to this day? What brings me joy?