Wednesday Wonder

September, the other New Year.

It certainly is feeling that way for me. Despite my child being nearly 30 now, I still get the itch to go back to school shopping every September. Even this year when I wasn’t really feeling up to much. There is something about the weather beginning to change that makes things feel new.

For me, this does feel like a new year; a new beginning. I am finally free of treatments, surgeries and all that goes with battling cancer. At the moment all the tests say I am cancer free. If that isn’t reason enough to pop the bubbly like it is midnight on December 31 st , I don’t know what is.

I am ready to be back to work. I just have to remember that I am still not 100% yet. If these writings are supposed to be about the wonder of life, I am certainly more aware of them right now. I am in awe of how my body has endured and regained its strength. I wonder at how things have changed and yet gone ‘back to normal’ as I recover from this final step in the journey. The one thing I know is not a wonder: that I want to get back to work, back to be with all of you and the ministry we have together. That is just how I am.

I have missed you all during various times in this journey. Yet, I know I was never without you. That is the wonder of faith and prayer and community. Even when I was feeling my worst, I could begin to see the light again knowing you were all sending me support. I was often asked throughout this journey how it was I could be so upbeat, so positive. When you know a whole community is encouraging, supporting and praying for you, how can you not be positive? And I did my best to share that with anyone I encountered along the way. Sometimes the nurses had to remind me I was a patient and not a chaplain. But some of them truly appreciated my positive outlook and stopped in for a brief top up of their own.

I am so grateful to all of you for providing that spirit to me. You have not only supported me, but those who I shared that spirit with, as well as still encouraging one another right here at Kingsview. Together, we have all weathered this storm. I know I have come through stronger and more determined. I trust that you have as well.

And now, we step into the ‘new year’ together. Let’s get back to work, not that you ever stopped. And what is that work? Being the hands and feet of God in this world. Christ showed us how. Now we work together to follow his lead.
It’s good to be back. See you Sunday!