Hello, everyone. One year ago today, I had a CT scan that discovered a tumor at the base of my tongue. It began my journey through diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. You all came along for that journey, many in person and others through the updates Emily and I shared on this site. I thought, given the anniversary, I would give a brief update. I am doing well. After I signed off last Spring, I did have some serious struggles with withdrawl getting off the painkillers I was taking. That was difficult but I got through it. I've now gained back more than half of the 40 pounds I lost during treatment and recovery. Though I still have some dry mouth, eating no longer is painful and taste seems pretty much back to normal. My check-ups at U of M so far have not shown any return of cancer. I am going in every three months for the first year, which, assuming the good news continues, will get extended out longer after that. I am teaching a full load at Hillsdale College and loving the chance to work in class with students again. All of my classes--U.S. Constitution, Constitutional Law, Shakespeare and Politics, and Tocqueville's Ancien Regime--have been a joy. Home also feels like normal again. Abigail is thriving in her Kindergarten class. Eliza is a total daddy's girl. Emily is busy with projects around the house as well as her work with her non-profit. Thank you all for your prayers, kind notes, and other forms of support. During my cancer journey, I turned to Scripture to work through my thoughts and feelings. Those passages taught, challenged, convicted, and comforted me. As I look back, King David's song of thanks from I Chronicles 16 came to my mind. It opens by commanding thanks: "Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name."
This thanks stems from God's mighty and gracious actions. Thus, David contiues by singing,
"make known his deeds among the peoples!
Sing to him, sing praises to him;
tell of all his wondrous works!"
I found interesting that the mighty works elicited thanks. At the same time, the way David thanks God involves telling those deeds. This is necessary. To praise, we must state what or Who is praiseworthy as well as why they are. For me, God has done many wondrous works over the last year. He delivered me from the cancer attacking my body. That alone deserves all the worship I can give. But He also spared me physically in many ways. I saw others during treatment going through much harder, more painful, more drawn-out trials. He also preserved my spirit. I had some difficult times. But God comforted me in my afflictions. He spoke His word to me through Scripture, through public worship, through the prayers and support of others.
David continues with,
"Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!
11 Seek the Lord and his strength;
seek his presence continually!"
In my weakeness, I have been driven to seek the LORD and His strength. He has been my strength. This strength I have found in His presence, in His faithfulness to meet me in Word and Sacrament, those means of grace through which He works to minister to His children. Thus, I can rejoice as my heart seeks him and glory in his name with a praise that combines joy with wonder, contentment with awe.
Later, David states,
"Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness;
30 tremble before him, all the earth;
yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved.
31 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice,
and let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!”
32 Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
let the field exult, and everything in it!
33 Then shall the trees of the forest sing for joy
before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth.
34 Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever!"
I am thankful that tomorrow I can worship God in the splendor of holiness. That such praise can include saying that God reigns, that He is LORD over the earth He created. That such a reign means He will not abandon His children but bring them to Himself in everlasting glory according to His eternal plan (Romans 8:28-30). He does so because He is good, the definition of good and the source of all other goods. He does so because part of that good is his steadfast love that endures forever.
I have seen that sovereign reign of our good and loving God in my life over the past year. So thankful for His faithfulness and many mercies to me.
