The weekend What If?

I actually did go through a period of time once when I believed I was going to die. It made me realize how many stupid things I got upset about. I think I do so a bit less now, and yes, it was well worth the anxiety.

this actually happened to me last fall… They found luekemia… and then 4 days later after a better, more complete test, took it back.

they expected me to be angry, but I was glad.. my husband was glad.. but we were also ready for the the word to fight.

In a strange way, it drew us closer, and we are better off for it… but those were a very long 4 days.

Six years ago (oddly this is in line with my comment over at Anne L.B's) I was told I had cervical cancer. I had this horrible news for about two months before tests revealed I had an infection that was cleared up with a simple run of antibiotics.

In that two month period I did something huge.
I bought a house right next door to my in(out)-laws.
Escrow closed and within a few days I was informed of my misdiagnosis.

I have been proximally challenged to put it politely for the last six years. I think the Lord wanted to clear up a few things in me he could do no other way perhaps?

And yes, I had immediate perspective when I thought I had cancer. Nothing petty seemed to matter. Funny how when it was resolved so to speak, all those petty things came into play again.

Yes, they would be worth the pain because once you are faced with dealing with the certainty of death your attitude changes.

Even once you are given better news however and you realize you are given a slight reprieve I think just in the one moment things about you will change so much, you will never view death or life the same again.

I am only hoping if ever given that news, that I am also hoping 5 days later I will get the better news.

In either case, God still prevails and reigns. I would have to place all trust in His hands and hope for the best.

Love and Hugs ~ Kat

Wow, such a powerful question my friend. I do think it would be worth the pain. If I thought I were dying, I would totally reexamine my life, my priorities, everything. It would make you see life in a total different way, and that can be a good thing.

Absolutely yes. And I would pray that I would be reminded of what is most important in this life.

I have had this happen, not in the dire circumstances of a given cancer report….but on more than one occasion I have had to get surgeries for suspected tumors and wait those grueling weeks for results.

Yes, this does bring you to a new place where you filter out what is the unnecessary baggage in your life and focus on what is really important.

That would be a painful and intense time in the refining fire with my Lord and I pray that I would emerge transformed and better able to minisger to others for His glory.

I'm not inviting trouble to come, oh no, but for His purposes, I hope I would stand in that fire and praise Him.

While I would, first, be extremely relieved, it would definitely be a learning experience!

Sometimes a jolt like that is just what is needed in order to refocus on the important things in life. Too many times I let petty things get in the way!

Ummm….I'm not saying I WANT this experience, though, okay? Now that a certain someone…a really talented, creative writer…has brought it to our attention, we can change our focus now, WITHOUT having to go through that kind of situation! Just sayin'…

I'll be thinking about this post all day…thanks, Billy.

Blessings,
Beth

A great question. If diagnosed with something terminal, I must say I am proud of the life I have lived and am grateful for the experiences that it has brought my way.

My faith leads me to believe that when this physical life is over that I will get my pass to enter into the eternal life, I will be welcomed by the Father and all of my family and friends that have gone before me. It is that faith and belief that keeps me going for the short period I am here. For the next step will be forever and exponentially better than this one.

Many blessings

Ken

Looking at the reality of my life, those five days would teach me a lot but then within three months, I would have forgotten it all and gone back to just the way I was before.

Sad but true.

To Peter P -

Honesty is always an admirable trait. John 1:47. ;D

I would search for answers to questions that can't be answered on earth, come to grips with going home, then probably be disappointed that I'm not – yet.

Or not. Who knows what I would really do? I would hope it would change my life for the better. At least for one day it would give me blog fodder.

And remind me of what/who really matters.

Don’t blink. Our last breath on this earth, is our first breath in eternity. Would it be worth the pain? Personally? No. I understand the yeses. God can turn any sorrow into joy and He specializes in turning tragedy into triumph, we can learn from pain. However, I want my children to learn fire is hot and it can burn, but not by getting burned. Furthermore, it would cause too much pain on my loved ones. As a Christian, I know I would leave to a better place. I try, (although not so well at times) to live with eternity in view. As one great writer put it recently…
"Row, row, row your boat
Gently down the stream,
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily
Life is but a dream…

Because life really is but a dream. And death? Death is simply when we wake up." Billy Coffey.

ps.I guess that's why they call it practicing medicine. I would make sure they didn't bill me for the misdiagnosis.

Yes. Each of us could use a 'reason' to re-examine our lives and how we treat those we claim to care about the most. My husband went through 8 months of chemo and we wondered for many of them if he'd survive. It was a time of reflection and insanity, though sadly as Peter said…reality is once enough time has passed we go back to being 'human' and forget some of what we learned. The silver lining is questions like this are a good opportunity to remember. Thanks Billy!

I believe God wastes nothing in my life. If He allows a misdiagnosis it is for my good. So, yes, it would be worth the pain.

Thanks for your provocative questions, Bill.

Jean
http://www.jeanmatthewhall.blogspot.com

Oh absoluttly…should give you a new outlook on your life and how you treat people and even see the people you know..or even strangers.

Melanie

I think it would be astounding to be told I was going to die and then find that it was a mistake. Astounding is the best word I coudl come up with for something so bad that would result in something so good! Great question.

I was in a serious accident and was 99.9% sure that I would not live to see another day. I carried that possibility for several weeks. However, I was allowed a second chance. God used the experience to move me closer to Him and I began my journey of faith.

I had had limited experience with church/God/religion prior to the accident. Through the accident, I developed a closeness to God. I had a painful recovery back from the edge of death.

Was it worth the pain? You bet!

Now, a few years post-accident, I can look back through the eyes of faith and understand that it was all planned…and necessary.

It's amazing that you brought this to my mind today. This week I am once again faced with tragedy and sadness. But…the memory of the goodness that came from a horrible accident, is my reminder today that God has a plan and He is not surprised by the current events in my life. One day I will be able to look back and understand.

What great answers. I am surprised how many people have really experienced such a tramatic time.

I would have to say, yes. But that is hard to say because it would be so painful to go thru!

Great post!

I would have to think that God had a reason behind the whole situation, from cover to cover.

About 15 years ago I had some strange fatigue which was diagnosed as a form of leukemia. After going to the cancer center over and over and having my blood drawn for what seemed like the millionth time, I attended a healing service at our church on a Sunday night.

The following day I had an appt. at the oncologist, my first. The first thing they did was draw blood, however the results threw them. I distinctly remember the nurse standing before me, reading my labs, saying, "And why are you here today?"

Stunned, all I could do was tell the oncologist I wouldn't be needing Him, because God had healed me. It was a happy, happy day, Billy.

Though I wasn't misdiagnosed, I will never forget the joyful, free feeling of leaving that place knowing I'd never return.

Hi Billy…Hmmmm, I don't think this would be a situation anyone would long to go through. However, I am certain that God would use it for our good, and use it to draw us closer to his heart.

I am sure there are many things we would come to appreciate more in life, if we felt we were facing death.

Just thinking about it, makes me think of the things I would appreciate more. It makes me think about whats really important and what only seems to be.

Great post! Have a great week!