Dark Hallways

I grew up at the Fort Worth and Jax Church Of Christ in Midland, Texas. At the time, I viewed that congregation as the largest congregation I had ever known (I had never been anywhere else). When I think of that facility, it is a small congregational building. There was a hall in that old building that was scary to all of us children. It was dark, and every classroom had a door that entered that hallway. As children, we would dare each other to go down that dark hallway and see if we could make it to the exit door at the end of the hall without turning around. As frightened children, we thought of that hallway as extremely long. The truth of the matter is that the hallway was only about thirty feet long, and I can not think of a single time that anything evil ever jumped out of one of those classrooms and devoured any of us. We were always glad to make it to the end of the hall and open the door. We were always happy to see the light and leave that perilous hallway. As I finish round two and enter round three of my treatments, I am not fearful of the dark hallway. I know I will have to handle things ahead of me, but I don’t have to handle them alone. Julie is with me; my family is behind me, my church is encouraging me, and Christ is inside me. There will come a day when I will make it to the door, and I will be delivered into The Light, but until that day comes, I will keep walking on the journey that God has prepared for me. Just a health note – I am doing well. Fatigue and weight loss are the most noticeable symptoms I have today, along with persistent but diminished back pain. Some of the days seem long, but the weeks seem short. Pray that I will be faithful through the journey. In Him J. Tom Washburn

Dear God, Thank You for the cancer

Today in my prayer time, I found myself saying, “Dear God, thank you for my cancer.” I know that sounds strange, but that is how I feel today. Cancer has helped me focus on my purpose. Cancer has helped me remember what is essential. Cancer has reminded me that this world is not my goal and heaven is real. Before cancer, I was content to stay in my weekly rut. Now I know time is too precious and the mission is too critical. I needed the pain to take me to the doctor. I needed the diagnosis to bring me to my knees. I needed to be still and quit being busy to learn some lessons that God had prepared to teach me. On February first, things took a turn for the better. There was a noticeable reduction in back pain. A few new side effects have shown up, like nausea and an enjoyable rash from time to time with lightheadedness, but I will take those any day over the debilitating back pain. There is still a long way to go, and I have some procedures coming up in March after my third round of Chemo, but I am at peace, and for the moment, I am not in an unbearable amount of pain every time I stand up and walk, and I can live with that. Did you hear what I said? I am at peace. I am at peace because I know God is in control, making the path, doing what is best, for the most, for His glory, and my good. I trust God. James 1:2 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds” That passage has a new meaning to me today. I am not being punished; I am being trained for the glory of God. So, I have chosen to respond to God, “Thank you for cancer.” In Him J. Tom Washburn