Love In the Time of Chemo

Uncharacteristically, rain is falling in the desert. Rain sounds lulls me into a comfort from somewhere in the past. The desert rain fragrance is very different from the fresh, clean smell of rain from the heartland of America. It is the musty scent of the creosote bush touched by moisture, life giving water.


From Isaiah 35 (NIV) Then will the eyes of the blind be opened
    and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
Then will the lame leap like a deer,     and the mute tongue shouts for joy.
Water will gush forth in the wilderness
    and streams in the desert.
The burning sand will become a pool,
    the thirsty ground bubbling springs.
This year’s monsoon has been very productive. More rain than I recall for a number of years. Yet it will not make up for the deficit in rainfall that causes water shortages here in Arizona.
We will see our desert plants bloom and blossom in varied hues and intensities. The ocotillo (oh-koh-TEE-yoh) often appears to be dead sticks with dangerous two inch t…

Thursday, the 9th was number three of four chemotherapy treatments. I am approaching the finish line. Today, Sunday, the third day post treatment is usually the worst. This has proved no different. I’ve even spiked a bit of a temperature at 99 degrees. Not to worry until it reaches 100.6 degrees.
Each successive treatment seems to be more difficult than the last. I am supposing it is due to all the chemicals / drugs being pumped into my body. Water is my best friend and I am constantly drinking it, sometimes, often times, with lemon in it.
I still cannot drink coffee and tried dark chocolate with the same effect. Perhaps I will be able to have them again when this process is finished. With all that being said, I am still having so many fewer side effects than most persons I know and observe. I am blessed and I know this to be true.
Each time now, I’ve had a different oncology nurse. The little lady I had on Thursday must have been all of fifteen years old (just kidding). Actually, s…

A friend from church forwarded this to me. I felt it was worthy of sharing.

On February 24th I wrote a post about my current medical issues. I said, “One thing I know for sure, none of this, not one iota is outside the will of God. My prayer? God, make it count!” Please see this post at bronlea.com for a wonderful article on prayer.


Who is  John Piper? John Stephen Piper (born January 11, 1946) is founder and teacher of desiringGod.org and chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He is a Calvinist Baptist preacher and author who served as Pastor for Preaching and Vision of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota for 33 years. His books include ECPA Christian Book Award winners Spectacular Sins, What Jesus Demands from the World, Pierced by the Word, and God's Passion for His Glory, and bestsellers Don't Waste Your Life and The Passion of Jesus Christ. The evangelical organization Desiring God is named for his book Desiring God: Medit…