Practice Makes Perfect

    "Stay with It, You Got This, Focus, Eye on the Prize, Keep on Keeping On."  All of these statements are, I am sure, statements many of us have heard throughout the course of our lives.  Lots of times, these phrases are used in sports, or competitions, to encourage the 'player' to meet his mark, or goal.  However, the one in the competition does not hear those encouragements by chance.  Rather, they have earned a status of effort, by practicing to perfect their skill or challenge.  Right?  I would like to approach that concept with a new perspective today, as an article I read this week made me think very differently about life. 
     On Monday, March 21st, my dad, my sister, and myself, sat in an oncology office and listened in disbelief as the doctor spoke.  Obviously used to the task, without sugar coating, he said "Mr. Cruce, you have Stage 4 pancreatic cancer.  It has spread to your lymph nodes, and to your lungs.  If you choose no chemotherapy or other treatment, you have 6 months at best.  If you opt for chemotherapy, maybe 8-12 months.."  He then patted dad on the leg and said "you okay?"  I wondered if he actually thought he was okay??  My sister sat with her hand over her mouth in awe, and I just kept staring at the doctor, as if to say "are you serious?"  He then handed us a plethora of chemotherapy literature to take home, read/study, decide which he chose if any, and told us to come back in two weeks for an appointment to talk about the chemo of choice.  After that appointment, we would then make arrangements for the chemo treatments.  He seemed to really know his "stuff", he uderstood his abilities, he was educated, and well versed in his profession, but something was lacking.  We left there so saddened by the fact that the doctor had, in no uncertain terms, just put some sort of date stamp on dad's life.  The first thing I said when we got in the car, is "Dad, you know that he doesn't know your end.  Only God know's, and He is the one who decides."  Dad smiled and said "Oh, I know that.  I am okay.  I just want to get this going, and I don't think I want to keep waiting to start fighting. And, no matter what, I know that my forever is secure."  I felt great sadness, and great happiness at the same time...he wanted to fight, but he knew that if God had a different agenda, he was ready!
     After loads of online research and studying over the next few days, (look mom, I utilized a part of my education!), I contacted GA Cancer Specialists.  The doctor I actually secured an appointment with, is a pancreatic cancer specialist, and he agreed to see us at the end of day, this past Monday.  We didn't really have an actual appointment, but the doctor himself told the office clerk to tack us on after his last appointment, as we would have had to wait about 3 weeks for a real appointment.  As we walked in the office, dad, my sister (Laura), and myself;  dad immediately said, "I like this office better already".  This doctor gave us the same prognosis, as we expected.  He then talked in depth about a variety of chemotherapy, and what he thought could be accomplished.  He recommended a chemo that was a little more aggressive than what is usually used for pancreatic cancer.  He told us the standard chemo, would simply help prolong life, but that the more aggressive chemo, in combination with dad's good health, could actually throw the cancer into remission, and give us more real time with dad!!  This doctor too, was well versed, educated, and confident in his abilities, however, he had something the other doctor was missing.  It seemed as though he had practiced compassion where the other doctor had none.  He also shared with us a sense of urgency in dad's care...the IV port will be implanted tomorrow, and the first chemo treatment will begin on Monday morning.  The first doctor's follow up appointment isn't until this Tuesday just to decide which chemo he wanted to take. Needless to say, that appointment has been cancelled.  Those two doctors said the same thing, in very different ways.  The first said it very cold, with his medical theology to back him up.  He did what his job required him to do.  The second doctor, said it with compassion and concern... as if he practiced regularly, certain additional skills to do his job in the very best way he could.  He seemed to be focused, even well rehearsed, in not only doing his job, but doing it with excellence.
     At the end of last week I received  an email via my sweet sister-in-law, Misty, that was an article written from an interview with Rick Warren.  I was, for obvious reasons, captivated by a portion of that article that talked about eternity.  He discussed his wife's own cancer diagnosis; and her confidence in her eternity.  Then, one phrase just jumped off of the computer screen as if to say "look Libby!!!!"  It said "Life is the preparation for eternity."  Wow!  The article also said "This is the warm-up act - the dress rehearsal."  Have you ever thought of life that way??  If anything, I have been thinking about life, and death, more in the last few weeks than I ever have.  I have been thinking of my life, my family's lives, my dad's life.  I have been thinking also about death, about our mortality, and our immortality.  I know death.  I know it's devestation and void...I watched death as it swept over my sweet little two pound baby boy on April 20th, 2006; a mere 14 hours after his birth.  I know how death takes away so much, and leaves a path of grief and sadness that words cannot express.  However, I know life and the Creator of not just life, but life everlasting!!  I know the One who has created Eternity, just for me and just for you!!!  When I read those quotes from Rick Warren's article, I sat in tears at the thought that death is a part of life, but as Christian, it is not the end of our life, but just the beginning of our eternity with our heavenly father.  I realized that I am on a mission in this life...to constantly be 'practicing'.  My goal is to keep my eye on the prize, to stay focused, to stay with it!  In the end, my reward is better than any earthly gain...it is eternity...to look upon the face of Jesus, to experience reunions with loved ones, and for me, to pick up my sweet little Gavin, hold him tightly, and to kiss him gently once again! 
     In light of our current circumstances, and as I get older, I find myself growing less and less afraid of death.  Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, says that there is an appointed time for everything under heaven.  That appointed time includes birth and death, even sorrow and laughter.  We as humans, don't rejoice in death.  We don't want to say goodbye to those we love...and to me, there is never a "good" time to lose someone.  However, as I have been looking at eternity more, and mortality less, heaven is becoming sweeter.  This life won't ever be completely easy.  I will face ups and downs, mountains and valleys...but the question is, will I face them alone??? Never!  I will continue to strive to know Christ more, to show His love more, to communicate with Him better, to show His compassion better, to tell more people about Him, to offer grace continually, and to never let go of His promise of eternal life...I am practicing now for my prize of eternity!!  Are you practicing?  Does your neighbor need a coach?  Be blessed, and remember...practice makes perfect!

        Psalm 28:7  The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped.  My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song.

        Psalm 56:3   What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.