“The Lord is my strength and my (impenetrable) shield; my heart trusts (with unwavering confidence) in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song, I shall thank Him and praise Him.” (Psalm 28:7 AMP)

Walking a new path

I am leaving soon for my chair and treatment number 5 of this 12-week cycle, and yes, I am counting down the days! Thank you for your continued and faithful prayers. I know that I am being carried right now.

This past week, I’ve had a few hard days and a few difficult nights sleeping. I know that I am in a battle, both physical and spiritual. Fatigue has been the hardest to navigate. Even as I struggle to adjust to new daily rhythms and limitations, I feel increasingly aware of the importance and power of the ministry of presence. I think deeply about this present moment and the new things I am experiencing. As I walk in the early morning and evening to keep my health as strong as possible, I meet new neighbors around my home or discover new pathways like I did this week at the infusion facility (Photo). The medical staff at Kaiser in the lab & oncology building are becoming familiar friends as I see them weekly. Yet, not being able to attend ELI staff meetings and join Don when we update churches and missions committees on the wonderful things God is doing through the ministry has been hard. Yet, I still have a unique joy and peace on this path, which is hard to describe – even in the midst of the unknown and the loss of what was.

As I walk this sacred journey with Jesus, His Word remains a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path! Psalm 28:7 has been my declaration this week. “You, Lord, are my strength and impenetrable shield; my heart trusts with unwavering confidence in YOU, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song, I will THANK YOU and PRAISE YOU!”

This quote about being truly present is a favorite of mine from Henri Nouwen’s journal during his six-month stay on the mission field in Bolivia and Peru:

“More and more, the desire grows in me simply to walk around, greet people, enter their homes, sit on their doorsteps, play ball, throw water, and be known as someone who wants to live with them. It is a privilege to have the time to practice this simple ministry of presence. Still, it is not as simple as it seems. My own desire to be useful, to do something significant, or to be a part of some impressive project is so strong that soon, my time is taken up in meetings, conferences, study groups, and workshops that prevent me from walking the streets. It is difficult not to have plans, not to organize people around an urgent cause, and not to feel that you are working directly for progress. But I wonder more and more if the first thing shouldn’t be to know people by name, to eat and drink with them, to listen to their stories and tell your own, and to let them know with words, handshakes, and hugs that you do not simply like them, but truly love them.” (Gracias: A Latin American Journal, 1983 by Henri Nouwen)

Entering a Labyrinth (At Kaiser facility)