When Cancer Spreads

Good morning…

In the middle of this droopy, drizzly night, I think back on the most meaningful two hours of this week. On Sunday night, Elizabeth, the 38-year-old daughter-in-law of our dear friend Joan, shared a really hard post, explaining that her colon cancer had spread.

“Any chance you all can have lunch with Joan and I tomorrow?” a friend texted a handful of us after hearing the news. “She has requested each of you. I’m assuming you know that it has spread to the bones. I’ll make reservations once I hear from you.”

Very quickly, we each responded “yes,” and, instead of meeting at a restaurant, the six of us decided to gather in the comfort of our home. From 11:00 am to 1:00 pm on Monday, time evaporated as the Holy Spirit ministered to us. Together, we hugged and prayed and talked and listened and cried and encouraged and told stories and asked questions and wondered aloud each passing thought.

Later in the day, one of the friends texted, “Elizabeth posted this on Instagram,” sharing the Henri Nouwen quote below. “This certainly ties with our time together today.”