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Just a thought about cancer... I usually scour the internet looking for the latest in-depth news. I guess it comes from being an old social studies teacher who still likes to keep up with the latest current events. tonight I read about the raging cancer across Africa. I had always thought it was AIDS and Malnutrition. This headline read; "Uganda battles wave of cancer". As I read the horrors of the extent of the disease, I discovered to my amazement that Africa has been singled out as the continent with the fastest growing cancer rate in the world. Then with shock and horror I read that in the capital of Uganda in Kampala-- the one major hospital with a chemotherapy treatment center- they do not have enough morphine to go around. And even more to my astonishment- they go without running water in a major city hospital for as long as month!! I listen to Canada's national broadcast system a lot too - CBC. I learned from snipets of a documentary I just got parts of about Wendy Mesley's investigation of cancer. She was diagnosed with breast cancer a few years ago and decided to do a major study of it and shared it in a documentary. Wow!! She claims it is everywhere and not too many people are asking the right questions, or for that matter any questions. It is in our food, our water, our air and who knows where else. All around us we hear of parents, relatives, close friends and the like who are suffering from this dreadful disease. It is sort of like the plaques of old-- where mass numbers of people died in a very short time. Thankfully we are slowly trying to eradicate smoking as a social ill. But where I live in small town Alberta-- legislation is still very slow to arrive and it is such a common social issue that most people strongly object to any legislation which curbs or attempts to limit it. Imagine how difficult it is for politicians! And I understand that in the Third World countries smoking is still very much the common practice. In China it is the government of China which runs the one and only tobacco company! Personally I have never smoked in my life. But both my parents did and I absolutely hated it. But I do understand how difficult it is for the smokers. And the worst thing one can do is nag them or hurt their feelings about the issue. So I try to understand the person as much as possible and help them cope. I know how difficult an addiction is and how hard it is to quit cold turkey. One of my close friends who did a lot of work in New York for a member of his family who died of cancer informed me just a few weeks ago that his wife has less than weeks left after being diagnosed with bowel cancer only ONE month ago. It does spread quickly. Ironically- my friend Rowland who has produced literally hundreds of CDs as a professional gospel singer/writer did some work for the New York City Police Dept to help them cope with the 9/11 tragedy. He donated most of his writings to the American and Canadian Cancer Societies. He was the project manager of a foundation that he started to help raise funds for a memorial to the four Canadian Mounties who were slain by a gunman just over a year ago in a small northern town called Mayerthorpe. SO now he has shut down his own involvement to be full time with his dear wife. ANd they are both so young and so much involved with the Lord's work. So what is our response to all this? Hopefully more than pray about it. Personally I do think there are links to be made to nuclear power stations, the testing of nuclear weapons that took place years ago underground, the 3 Mile Island and Chernobyl tragedies-- as well as all the chemical additives in our food and drinks. Again I think we use the old saying- "Pray to God but row for shore". Perhaps not enough of us are doing the rowing. We do need to do more research and we do need to become socially articulate and ACTIVE with respect to bringing about change through political and other action. When so many of our friends are suddenly dianosed with it-- perhaps we should check out what is going on. O God you are so powerful and such a mighty force; Lord of Heaven and Earth-- comfort all those suffering from cancer and other dreaded diseases, help us to help those who are dieing to close their lives with dignity and love of you; bring understanding to all those families and friends that cannot understand this terror that grips so much of the earth-- and above all-- help us to root out the causes and become untiring workers to bring about change to eradicate it. And Lord-- please help us to see Cancer as an evil. Help us to clean up our environment and change our hearts so that we guard your earth with love and happiness. Amen. |
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Thanks Edna! Always nice to hear from you! One day the world will realize that war and the preparation for war serves no one. Here in Canada a group of Veterans who were used as guinea pigs for agent orange are suing the Federal Government for witholding information about the contents of agent orange. Most of them will be dead before they get justice in the courts, but it shows you how extensive the cancer is.
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4/28/2006 8:54 pm |
I like the line "Pray to God but row for shore", but you will get a myriad of answers to that one, and every few years the scientific community changes their mind. I agree though that nuclear tests have had an impact. I have an uncle who as part of the NZ Navy was sent to the Northern Pacific as one of the men witnessing the US nuclear tests after WWII. There is cancer in my family, but he has had multiple melanomas removed from his face, shoulders and back and he has had prostate cancer. He has suffered several other illnesses also - the navy at least foots the bills. (I wonder if the US subsidises our navy for this cost?) Of course there are now all those men who were in Vietnam during the years that Agent Orange was used, and there is a high incidence of various cancers among the men and illnesses in their children. It seems we truly live in a fallen world and are paying the consequences of it. Thanks for this thought provoking post.
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I thank you sheepishseven for the great advice. I do need to exercise more! Let us keep your mother in our prayers! Chris
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Thank you TeaKitty and a huge "AMEN" for educating me! As you can see I am a total novice. I do drink a lot of milk- but 1 per cent skim. I also use margarine. I thought it was better than butter. Never heard of Stevia before. I have been using artificial sweeteners to help reduce the weight. I've cut out a lot of candy I used to eat- but ohhh boy I have to give up a piece of apple pie and ice cream after a restaurant meal??? YIKES!! You are right about God doing the healing! He does everything. I think I am getting a major overhaul here with my understanding of good quality food. How does a guy like me who has to eat out so much survive then? LIfe is going to be miserable eating only salads. I've been trying to lose some weight lately and have cut out breads and potatoes. But I still have trouble finding the time to do the exercise. Nice to have friends with so much knowledge! God bless you Teakitty!
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