Cancer, Jesus, Sin, and Surgery

I have a hole in my head now. Well, it is sewed up with about 60 stitches. We found melanoma, so went to Dallas for surgery. It’s sore and ugly. But here is the good news: they got it all. Just like the first time, when they cut melanoma out of my chest about 10 years ago. So this is the second round. Different location, but still cancer.

Even weirder, just two days before the surgery I got a horrible bacterial infection in my eyes. It was sort of like pink eye, but worse and in both eyes. So I had to go see my optometrist, but it cleared up just in time for surgery.

I had great doctors and care plus lots of prayer from all over the world. I so appreciate the great medical care, but it was all God. He gets the glory—and would have even if it hadn't gone well.

I’m full of Jesus and empty of cancer.

And all of this made me think about melanoma and sin, about radical physical and spiritual surgery, and about recovery.

Sometimes we think sin is no big deal, like a little spot on your head. But if you ignore it, it just gets worse. And worse. If you don’t get rid of it, it will kill you. Just like sin. These little things do not seem like a big deal. Until they are, and you find yourself in real spiritual danger.

So listen when people warn you about things in your life that can be dangerous. So I'm glad I listened to my wife and went to see my dermatologist. I’m glad I listened to him and had the surgery.

Cut the sin out. And be careful, because it may show up again. It may be in a different place, and it may look different, but it’s still sin. It was radical surgery to remove the cancer, but it is gone.

Getting healthy hurts. It involves lots of big needles. And deciding to get spiritually well requires making hard decisions. Sometimes it is painful. Sometimes there are consequences.

There was lots of blood. And I looked ugly (uglier) for a while. Just like a life with sin.

It takes help. Doctors, meds, family, a community of faith. Prayers, food, hugs, skillful surgery. Elders, Scripture, people who love you. It takes help to get rid of sin too. Same kind of help in most cases.

I will have a scar. That’s what happens to wounds—they become scars. It’s just like how forgiveness and faith turn our sins into scars.

I do not want the cancer to come back. I wear hats. I look for suspicious signs. So does my wife. And with sin I am careful. I take precautions. I have trusted friends who watch out for me.

Catch it quick and cut out what you need to. Turn wounds into scars.

It works with cancer, and it works with sin.

Thanks God for healing in lots of ways.