Updates:
- I have now completed 2 out of 12 chemo treatments.
- We are now at the point in treatment in which I lose my hair. It started falling out in chunks this week. It is a rather bizarre experience, so we decided to go ahead and give my head a close shave. The next time you see me you might not recognize me, or you will likely find me in a hat!
Prayer Requests and Praises:
- My symptoms have been more mild than last week (fewer mouth sores, more energy, etc.). This is a direct answer to prayer. Thank you!
- I was previously losing weight, but now I’m gaining weight. This is a real blessing and gift from the Lord!
- Please pray that all my treatments are on time and not delayed by any sickness in the coming weeks.
What I am Learning:
- I have been struck by how God uses suffering to teach Christians the most important truths. God is refining me through this process to seek him instead of being “too busy” to ignore him.
“Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word. You are good and do good; teach me your statutes.” (Psalm 119:67–68).
- Facing the darkness that comes with cancer has shone a light on how many pitiful excuses I had for neglecting unhurried time with the Lord. What really matters most in this life? It is knowing God and communing with him.
“We must learn to measure ourselves not by our knowledge about God, not by our gifts and responsibilities in the church, but by how we pray and what goes on in our hearts. Many of us, I suspect, have no idea how impoverished we are at this level. Let us ask the Lord to show us.” (Knowing God, JI Packer, 23)
- You might not have cancer, but I would ask you to consider your own schedule and priorities. Do you spend time seeking the Lord in prayer and by reading the Bible? Or is there always something that is more important? Cancer is a good reminder that nothing is more important than holiness.
What Has Been Encouraging:
- This might sound strange, but I have been encouraged by purchasing new hats. Since my hair is now going through a bit of a rough transformation, I have decided to embrace the hat life for the next few months. I’ll indulge myself by telling you about two of my favorites picks:
- I picked out a Joshua Tree hat, which is a National Park in California. The Perrons have a family goal to visit as many national parks as possible before our kids graduate. This park is on our list, and I like being reminded that we will be able to visit it one day after I’m cleared for travel. The trees in the park are called Joshua Trees because they look as if they are lifting their hands up to God in prayer.
- I also have a navy hat with a skeleton holding up a lantern. It reads “Post tenebras lux.” That is Latin for “After Darkness, Light.” This was a reoccurring motto of the Protestant Reformation. The Catholic church had suppressed the Scripture for many years until God worked through reformers like Tyndale, Luther, and Calvin. An explosion of revival took place as the true good news of salvation through Jesus spread far and wide. We are saved by grace, not by our good deeds (Ephesians 2:8-9)!
- Post tenebras lux is paradigmatic of how God works in the world. There is dark before the dawn. But God is light and no darkness can overpower him.
“All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:3–5
Unspoken 