Update #41

Jewel has now had 3 of her 25 radiation treatments. She continues to struggle with tiredness and nausea. We continue to be blessed by the highly professional yet warm and caring team at the Cancer Clinic.Yesterday at the clinic we ran into some friends we had not seen in quite some time. They were accompanying a family member who was also being treated for cancer. There is an immediate bonding that takes place at a moment like this.

As we conclude this year and prepare to enter a new year we recognize that our journey takes some expected turns. While we live complex and often complicated lives our experience of these last few months has driven us back to simple faith in Jesus Christ.

As we prepare for 2010, I am reminded of the following story. (It’s a bit long but I think makes a profound point.)

A man at LAX was worried about missing his plane. He had no wristwatch and could not locate a clock, so he hurried up to a total stranger and said,

Excuse me; could you give me the time please? The stranger smiled and said, Sure. He sat down the two large suitcases he was carrying and looked at the watch on his wrist. It is exactly 5:09. The temperature outside is 73 degrees, and it is supposed to rain tonight. In London the sky is clear and the temperature is 38 degrees Celsius. The barometer reading is 29.14 and falling. And, let’s see, in Singapore the sun is shining brightly. Oh, by the way, the moon should be full tonight here in Los Angeles, and...

Your watch tells you all that? The man interrupted.

Oh, yes, and much more. You see, I invented this watch, and I can assure you there’s no other timepiece like it in the world.

I want to buy that watch! I’ll pay you two thousand dollars for it right now.

No, it’s not for sale, said the stranger as he reached down to pick up his suitcases.

Wait! Four thousand. I’ll pay you four thousand dollars cash, offered the man, reaching for his wallet.

No, I can’t sell it. You see, I plan to give it to my son for his twenty-first birthday. I invented it for him to enjoy.

Okay, listen—I’ll give you ten thousand dollars. I’ve got the money right here.

The stranger paused. Ten thousand? Well, OK. It’s yours for ten thousand even.

The man was absolutely elated. He paid the stranger, took the watch, snapped it on his wrist with glee, and said. Thanks as he turned to leave.

Wait, said the stranger. With a big smile he handed the two heavy suitcases to the man and added, Don’t forget the batteries.

As we enter this New Year, we want to be careful about the excess baggage we take with us. Our lives are stripped back to the basics of faith and trust in a God that brings hope and meaning. So while we face another year of twists and turns we do so knowing that God goes before us.

Happy New Year!

Yours on the Journey,

Geoff and Jewel

Update #40

As we begin this Christmas Eve day it feels good to be home and wind down from the last few weeks of busy travel and activity. Unlike other years, I only have a little shopping to do instead of doing most of my Christmas gift buying the day before Christmas. :-)

I am particularly grateful that in spite of the major snowstorm on the East coast, I was able to get in and out of New York City for some very important meetings hosted at the Salvation Army’s International Center for Social Justice. I also had an opportunity to visit with some young colleagues who are doing some amazing things for the Kingdom on Wall Street.

Everywhere I have travelled in the last few weeks, whether Korea, China or New York, I have been asked about Jewel and told that we have been prayed for very much. This is so encouraging.

It has now been four weeks since Jewel had her last chemo. It seems as the cumulative effects of the treatments has produced daily exhaustion. Jewel is very grateful that the chemotherapy is now completed.

Even though Jewel gets very tired she has been able to engage in some light activity. It was great to see Jewel pick me up at the airport when I returned from New York. This feels like a little of our normal activities are returning.

We continue to pray that Jewel gains strength. This is particularly important as she prepares for her daily radiation treatments that begin on December 29^th.

Tonight we are looking forward to going as a family to the Christmas Eve service. It will be the first time in months that our family has been able to go to Church together. On Christmas day we will keep it pretty low key. I will work with Natasha on preparing Christmas dinner. We will then have a short visit with some of my family.

On this Christmas, we want to live in the reality of God’s love for us. I am reminded of a quote of Barbara Brown Taylor

LET US REVEL in the light of that star beneath which the ordinary becomes holy and the holy ordinary, beneath which it becomes exceedingly clear that there is nothing more we must do or be to be loved by God.

Merry Christmas to everyone. Thanks for your love and care.

Yours on the Journey,

Geoff

Update #39

It is now day sixteen since Jewel’s last chemotherapy. While she has had some days that have been difficult with pain and nausea overall she has come through this bought of treatment with no major side effects. Exhaustion now seems to be her biggest struggle.

On Monday, Jewel will return to the Cancer Clinic for a CT Scan and prepare for her radiation treatments that begin the week after Christmas.

Yesterday I was able to go with Justin and Natasha and pick out our Christmas tree from Chung’s – our town’s ‘famous’ provider of pine, balsam and spruce trees. It was fun for Jewel and I to work with our kids in dressing the tree. Although Natasha decided we should not hang all the hand-made ornaments that she and Justin had made since they were three years old. She mentioned something about not wanting to be embarrassed by tacky handicrafts.

This has been a bit of crazy week. I had to make a quick trip to Korea for 3 days to speak at the 20^th Anniversary of the Christian Council of Korea. This council, which became a member of WEA earlier this year, represents about 12 million Christians in Korea. Along with speaking at this celebration, I was able to meet with some key leaders to discuss staging a major global event. Lot’s to think and pray about.

I’m looking forward to spending this week at home. Lot’s of meetings at the office planned. Also, lot’s to do on the home front, including looking for a car for our daughter so she has transport to get to college in January.

Yours on the Journey,

Geoff