Hello, I’m Daniel Westfall on the channel “Pray With Me”.

You may ask what I learned from my journey with cancer and chemo. My heartful reply is, “Life is confusing. I’m never sure what I’m learning.”

Perhaps Pete Seeger was thinking of me in Where Have All the Flowers Gone when he sang:
    When will they ever learn?
    When will they ever learn? 

However, since I do reflect on my life and my experiences, here are some thoughts. 

First, life is fragile and uncertain. I was physically healthy for 68 years, until cancer swept that away and introduced me to surgery and hospital stays and chemo-sickness. It doesn’t take much to land me in pain and helplessness.

My health is better this spring, but age now speaks to me in aching muscles. And creaky bones. And a forgetful mind. 

Moses said, “The length of our days is 70 years, or 80 if we have the strength. Yet their span is but trouble and sorrow for they quickly pass and we fly away” (Ps 90:10). I often think about flying away.   

A second lesson. My faith is in God, not in the medical system. The psalmist said, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the Lord our God” (Ps 20:7). 

Yes, some trust medicine and some natural remedies, but I trust in God who watches over life and death. Last November in the hospital with chemo-caused sickness, the medical profession didn’t understand what was wrong with me. My comfort was the beauty of cold winter sunrises in hospital windows, and the Spirit’s witness that God was looking out for me. 

My third lesson is endurance. Paul said, “We rejoice in our trials because we know that trials produce endurance” (Ro 5:3). I didn’t rejoice my way through chemo. But I endured it. I was miserable and fatigued, but I tried not to dump my misery on those around me, because God was teaching me Endurance 101. If I have passed that course, maybe I’m ready for Endurance 201. I think I’d prefer a lighter course. Does God offer basket weaving?

A fourth lesson is community. I’ve always been very private, but the Spirit prompted me to invite my community to journey with me. So I published a newsletter, posted on Facebook, and welcomed family and friends and visitors. During that chemo winter, I lost my spiritual disciplines—prayer and scripture and dog-walking. But the prayers and encouragement of the community supported me in some way I don’t understand. 

Let’s pray. 

O Father, I don’t look forward to Endurance 201. But I do look forward to the day I will fly away.

Thank you for lessons in endurance and community, for those who shared your love with me through the worst of my cancer winter. 

Life is a mystery. Science studies it and doctors heal it, but no one really understands it. 

Because life is your gift to us. You walk with us through the mystery we live on earth, into the mystery of eternity. 

Teach me to walk with grace and patience and humor.

Amen. 

I’m Daniel, on the channel “Pray with Me”.  

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