It has been wonderful to hear from so many friends over this Christmas season. There have been so many asking "how are you doing?" and assurances "we have been praying for you and continue to pray for you". These relationships are invaluable riches.
This past week, over Christmas, has been so enjoyable with Jennifer and Kevin and 2 of our grandkids filling the house with stories and laughter and squeals of delight.
I have been home in recovery mode for about 3 weeks and I'm so grateful that strength is returning, I would estimate to perhaps the 33% level. The healing continues with the help of the visiting nurse every other day who changes the dressing on the wound from the surgery. And, as always, hovering over and above, just slightly lower than the angels, is my personal nurse, Shirley nee Booth. With all of this care, orchestrated by the Lord, I am of all men most blessed.
Some of you have been looking for this, another segment of the blog arising out of this "health issue", as we euphemistically call these crises. This will probably be the last in this series of reports and musings. It's time to rest and continue to let God do His work in my body and spirit.
But there is one last passage of Scripture that has captured my attention in a big way these days. It's about this "work" of God which is invisible on one level (only nurses and doctors see under the dressings to where the body is being re-knit together) and visible on another level. The Apostle Paul talks about the work of God being manifested openly, visibly as we lives our lives submissively and obediently under His good hand.
mo
The passage of Scripture is 2 Cor. 4:11-15 where Paul speaks about "death working in us but life working in you" (v.12). There are deep truths to be mined from this text. My experience cannot be equated to the Apostle's. He was facing death because of his witness for Christ in a hostile culture. My recent struggle with cancer has a very different source - living in an earthly physical body that is subject to disease and decay. But the phrase still fits: "death is at work". This is not a morbid lament but a realistic statement about the reality of life. It is passing and brief. We only have today that we can be certain about.
So the issue is "do we really understand that reality?" and "what do we do about it?" I know that that past few months have helped me to learn some of these lessons a little more deeply than ever before. I understand that God wants to use this season of facing "death at work" in my body to manifest His "life at work" for the sake of others coming to know Him better. My prayer is that every life that my life touches will be drawn closer to the Lord so that it can be truly said that when our last day comes (however and whenever) "the Lord Jesus will raise us up and present us with you." (v.14). That will cause great thanksgiving to about to the glory of God (v. 15). Amen. Thus endeth the lessons.
With love, prayer and thanksgiving. KEN
Monday, December 28, 2009
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
LEARNING THROUGH WEAKNESS
I'm not one to dwell on the negative. If you know me at all, you know I'm basically a positive guy. I've never gone through this kind of experience before and I now understand how quickly you can become preoccupied with suffering. I'm determined not to go there. But neither do I want to live in denial. Balance is an illusive goal.
Last Saturday we moved back into a positive space physically. I/we were released to return to our home in Nanaimo, complete with drainage tubes attached, dressings to be changed every day, enough drugs to start a pharmacy... and my own beautiful nurse to insure that I keep things in order. What a blessing to have this retreat (our new home) in which to convalesce and recover.
With the physical pain basically managed, it is an interesting and difficult experience to deal with the emotional and psychological challenges of recovery. The writer of Hebrews says Jesus , even being the very Son of God "learned obedience through the things that He suffered." Who can plumb the depths of that statement? It's all part of that amazing reality that he "humbled himself and became obedient..." I certainly would not want to be interpreted as pretending to duplicate the experience or holiness of Jesus.
But as I reflect on "learning obedience through suffering" I'm wrestling with the reality of limitations. I have been called upon to be a leader in various situations in life and ministry. I hope I have exemplified the Jesus style of leadershp: servant leadership. But leadership involves control of one kind or another. Suffering usually involves not having control.
Illustration: a young woman, hardly out of high school (or so it seems) is speaking loudly in your ear as you emerge from the anaesthetic: "wiggle your toes, Mr. Birch... wiggle your toes...!" She's the nurse in the post-op recovery room. Talk about not being in control. And that's just the beginning. Your body can't perform the things you have always done, almost instinctively, within your sphere of control. The energy level is barely 10%. And now the nurse is in control. I'm such a lucky guy to have Shirley looking after me. But everything within me says "I should be doing that for her. She shouldn't be doing that for me!"
I could add to the examples. But I've rambled on enough. Simply to say that if and when you are praying for me, pray that I will learn these lessons of submission, patience and obedience. And pray for Shirley that she will continue to have the grace to handle her husband who is used to be in charge. On the medical side, we have appointments in Victoria on Friday for the Dr. to assess and confirm (hopefully) that there are no interruptions on the road to recovery.
As I think about it, I am really a slow learner. None of us was designed to be a control freak. Six simple words from Jesus sum it up: "without me you can do nothing." (John 15:5). Some of us have thicker heads than others.
Last Saturday we moved back into a positive space physically. I/we were released to return to our home in Nanaimo, complete with drainage tubes attached, dressings to be changed every day, enough drugs to start a pharmacy... and my own beautiful nurse to insure that I keep things in order. What a blessing to have this retreat (our new home) in which to convalesce and recover.
With the physical pain basically managed, it is an interesting and difficult experience to deal with the emotional and psychological challenges of recovery. The writer of Hebrews says Jesus , even being the very Son of God "learned obedience through the things that He suffered." Who can plumb the depths of that statement? It's all part of that amazing reality that he "humbled himself and became obedient..." I certainly would not want to be interpreted as pretending to duplicate the experience or holiness of Jesus.
But as I reflect on "learning obedience through suffering" I'm wrestling with the reality of limitations. I have been called upon to be a leader in various situations in life and ministry. I hope I have exemplified the Jesus style of leadershp: servant leadership. But leadership involves control of one kind or another. Suffering usually involves not having control.
Illustration: a young woman, hardly out of high school (or so it seems) is speaking loudly in your ear as you emerge from the anaesthetic: "wiggle your toes, Mr. Birch... wiggle your toes...!" She's the nurse in the post-op recovery room. Talk about not being in control. And that's just the beginning. Your body can't perform the things you have always done, almost instinctively, within your sphere of control. The energy level is barely 10%. And now the nurse is in control. I'm such a lucky guy to have Shirley looking after me. But everything within me says "I should be doing that for her. She shouldn't be doing that for me!"
I could add to the examples. But I've rambled on enough. Simply to say that if and when you are praying for me, pray that I will learn these lessons of submission, patience and obedience. And pray for Shirley that she will continue to have the grace to handle her husband who is used to be in charge. On the medical side, we have appointments in Victoria on Friday for the Dr. to assess and confirm (hopefully) that there are no interruptions on the road to recovery.
As I think about it, I am really a slow learner. None of us was designed to be a control freak. Six simple words from Jesus sum it up: "without me you can do nothing." (John 15:5). Some of us have thicker heads than others.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
'IN HIS HANDS"
"... in His hands." I've had so share words of encouragement along this journey, most including a passage of scripture. Probably the most quoted would be this one: "our days (times) are in His hands." I've spent hours meditating on these words during these weeks in Royal Jubilee. Everyone is believing with us that healing is coming and I have many days of earthly life still to live. This affirmation ("in His hands") is not fatalistic. He is the living, all-powerful, all-loving, all-knowing God. He is sovereign over the universe, all history and last, but not least, over each of our individual lives.
Think of the Sovereign Lord with hands! The biblical writers are led by the Holy Spirit to express the character and work of God in human terms that we might understand who He is and what He does. (The theologians call these anthropomorphisms). His hands are strong, loving, creating, protecting, correcting, directing, healing...the list goes on. And I am in those hands.
I'm so thankful that He is not just a distant, unknowable God. He is my God. To put it in the words of perhaps the most memorable Psalm in the Bible, "The Lord is MY Shepherd."
I'm in His hands! My heart overflows with thanksgiving!
It's understandable that most people think of this truth ("our days are in His hands") with reference to facing some point of vulnerability, such as a potentially fatal illness, and that is appropriate. But my thoughts have moved far beyond that in these days. Perhaps these words can enlarge your thoughts as well.
--------------------------
It has been 5 weeks since I entered hospital although you haven't heard much from me on this blog in the last week or so. That's because neither I, nor the doctors, know exactly what to say.
There has been another return to the site of the original surgery. More small cancer sites were found and removed. Beyond that, it can't be said with Melanoma that "that's all there is or we got it all". The good news is that at this point the scans examining the rest of my body show no signs of the disease.
And so we have decided that it's time for me to get home, get strong again, and get on with life. It's certainly true that our lives will never be the same again. What mine will look like, time will tell. We are mapping out plans for the first months of 2010. (Participating in the Winter Olympics will not be one one them.) But returning to Africa is on the agenda. And there are invitations for teaching and ministry in Canada which await. Mostly we look forward to renewed fellowship with so many of you good friends. Whatever other changes may come along in the future, I know that I'm a better, bigger person spiritually than before all of this began. God's hands have been at work. God bless.
KEN (AND SHIRLEY)
Think of the Sovereign Lord with hands! The biblical writers are led by the Holy Spirit to express the character and work of God in human terms that we might understand who He is and what He does. (The theologians call these anthropomorphisms). His hands are strong, loving, creating, protecting, correcting, directing, healing...the list goes on. And I am in those hands.
I'm so thankful that He is not just a distant, unknowable God. He is my God. To put it in the words of perhaps the most memorable Psalm in the Bible, "The Lord is MY Shepherd."
I'm in His hands! My heart overflows with thanksgiving!
It's understandable that most people think of this truth ("our days are in His hands") with reference to facing some point of vulnerability, such as a potentially fatal illness, and that is appropriate. But my thoughts have moved far beyond that in these days. Perhaps these words can enlarge your thoughts as well.
--------------------------
It has been 5 weeks since I entered hospital although you haven't heard much from me on this blog in the last week or so. That's because neither I, nor the doctors, know exactly what to say.
There has been another return to the site of the original surgery. More small cancer sites were found and removed. Beyond that, it can't be said with Melanoma that "that's all there is or we got it all". The good news is that at this point the scans examining the rest of my body show no signs of the disease.
And so we have decided that it's time for me to get home, get strong again, and get on with life. It's certainly true that our lives will never be the same again. What mine will look like, time will tell. We are mapping out plans for the first months of 2010. (Participating in the Winter Olympics will not be one one them.) But returning to Africa is on the agenda. And there are invitations for teaching and ministry in Canada which await. Mostly we look forward to renewed fellowship with so many of you good friends. Whatever other changes may come along in the future, I know that I'm a better, bigger person spiritually than before all of this began. God's hands have been at work. God bless.
KEN (AND SHIRLEY)
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
THE FRAGRANCE OF CHRIST
If you come to visit me at the Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria you will find me in the Burn Unit. (By the way, you are all welcome, just don't all come at once.) It's not that I am a burn victim. But in this unit they deal with skin grafts that are part of various surgical procedures including, in my case, cancer. This is a wonderful oasis of treatment and healing. The nurses and doctors are outstanding.
Skin grafts are something else. While you are under the anaesthic they lift healthy skin from some part of your body (usually a leg or thigh) and place it over the operative site. So far my big right leg has 'donated' (that's the word they use) about 40 square inches to my shoulder and back. Then the healing power of God in the body takes over. It's another amazing example of how our bodies are 'fearfully and wonderfully made.'
But when surgery is over and the anaesthetic wears off, watch out! Every day the nurses have to change the dressing and that process exposes the nerves to the air and then to new, sterile
bandages. It's a painful experience like none other I've ever experienced. Some of you have been there and will know what I'm talking about. It makes you want to scream. Many people do. Some of the nurses have told me they have had to be excused from this responsibility from time to time. It's just too hard to know you are putting people through this experience.
Carol Burnett was once asked to help men understand the pain of childbirth. She replied "take your lower lip and stretch it over your forehead." Skin grafts are at least that painful.
On Friday I will have another (hopefully the last) surgery for the Drs to go after any remaining rogue cancer cells surrounding the site of the original surgery. I shared this development in my last blog. And there will be another skin graft. I need say no more about the need for prayer.
My greatest desire is that my attitude and reactions will emit "the fragrance of Christ" (2 Cor. 2:15-17). I'm no strong man or hero. I may not scream on the outside, but on the inside... The Burn Unit feels every bit as much like a mission field as the Kibera slum in Nairobi. That's my next instalment on this blog.
Thanks for walking with me through this journey. God bless.
KEN
One of my favorite metaphors for the influence of the Christian life is "fragrance".
Skin grafts are something else. While you are under the anaesthic they lift healthy skin from some part of your body (usually a leg or thigh) and place it over the operative site. So far my big right leg has 'donated' (that's the word they use) about 40 square inches to my shoulder and back. Then the healing power of God in the body takes over. It's another amazing example of how our bodies are 'fearfully and wonderfully made.'
But when surgery is over and the anaesthetic wears off, watch out! Every day the nurses have to change the dressing and that process exposes the nerves to the air and then to new, sterile
bandages. It's a painful experience like none other I've ever experienced. Some of you have been there and will know what I'm talking about. It makes you want to scream. Many people do. Some of the nurses have told me they have had to be excused from this responsibility from time to time. It's just too hard to know you are putting people through this experience.
Carol Burnett was once asked to help men understand the pain of childbirth. She replied "take your lower lip and stretch it over your forehead." Skin grafts are at least that painful.
On Friday I will have another (hopefully the last) surgery for the Drs to go after any remaining rogue cancer cells surrounding the site of the original surgery. I shared this development in my last blog. And there will be another skin graft. I need say no more about the need for prayer.
My greatest desire is that my attitude and reactions will emit "the fragrance of Christ" (2 Cor. 2:15-17). I'm no strong man or hero. I may not scream on the outside, but on the inside... The Burn Unit feels every bit as much like a mission field as the Kibera slum in Nairobi. That's my next instalment on this blog.
Thanks for walking with me through this journey. God bless.
KEN
One of my favorite metaphors for the influence of the Christian life is "fragrance".
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