You Have Cancer

I sat in the doctor's office that first week of November in 2008.  The doctor solemnly looked at me and said, "Mr. Bowien, you have cancer."

Wow!  It hit me like a ton of bricks.  Well, not really so hard.  I kind of suspected it all along.  I had been having some health issues that my primary care doctor was treating me for.  You know the kind ... the ones dealing with normal body functions caused by eating food and it going through the normal channels on its way out.  It was a numbing effect hearing those words ... "you have cancer."  I wanted to cry.  I think my wife was already crying.  The doctor told me that the only option that I had was surgery and then chemotherapy.  There ... its laid right in my lap.  Cancer!  People die from cancer.  I thought, "am I going to die?".  People suffer with cancer.  I thought, "am I going to suffer?".  I thought, "O, Lord, what am I going to do now?"

I began to ask all the same questions that I had heard from those that I had ministered to with cancer.  "Why me?"  "Why at this point in my life?"  "What will happen to my wife and family when I die?" (not if I die - I had cancer - when I die).  And then it came over me all of a sudden.  I had peace with it.  God began to speak to my heart and He told me three things that I want to share with you.

God said ... "I knew it was coming."

God said ... "I know how to take care of it."

God said ... "I want you to figure out its purpose and use it to help people going through the same thing."

With those thoughts going through my mind, I put complete trust in what God was going to do.  I said to the doctor, "Let's get this done.  Schedule the surgery and let's get started."  As I trusted God; complete peace about what was going to happen came to me.  My attitude changed to a positive outlook toward the future.  My perspective changed about the way people deal with cancer in their life.  I was actually excited about what God was going to do.  Now, perhaps, writing about it will be a blessing to others.  I hope to give you some real insight about faith, hope and trust.  Be looking for my next issue dealing with, "I knew it was coming."  I hope and pray that as you read about my experience, that you will be encouraged to find hope and peace in your experience.