You have breast cancer Dr. Deborah said. “Do you see this star burst shaped-form on your mammography film? That is usually indicative of a cancerous tumor.”

What? What is she saying to me, I am only 48, I thought. Cancer? Me? Thoughts rushed through my feverish brain. My temperature was 102 with a bad flu but I made my appointment anyway as there was this little dimple…and I had been sick of late.

“We will expedite you into the hospital day after tomorrow to remove this tumor.” My heart fell with a thud!

The following week, in shock and trembling, sensing I was dying as the vitality of life was slipping from me, I learned the tumor did not have “clean margins” – I would face mastectomy and weeks of chemo. First stop – Pastor Dave’s office. You are in a spiritual crisis, he said. You must share this news with the congregation. “Absolutely Not!” I replied emphatically crying all the while. This is so private, I thought. I had always managed my life by myself. Four hours later, with Pastor David’s guidance, I surrendered my will to Christ and placed my life in God’s hands. (Pastor Dave told me later on he would have kept me at his desk all night until I agreed.) He said something curious. “This congregation NEEDS to care for you. This is important for our church.” I did not immediately understand his vision for our Lutheran country church as a Vine of Christ.

Doris, “Bow your head! Let’s pray and WE will carry you,” so we prayed for God’s will. Each week Pastor drove to NYC from PA throughout the surgeries and hospitalization. The congregation rallied to my bedside encouraged by Pastor Dave, during subsequent weeks of chemo and reconstruction. With the power of the Holy Spirit, they bore me up to health again. I can give witness that Spiritual crisis and suffering should not be endured alone. In turn, as people of God, we need to give to others of ourselves but we also need to receive His gifts of abundant life, for we are His precious children. He gave his Son for us that we should live and have everlasting life. The blessed Vine of Christ saved my life. It saves each of us every day for newness of life in Him, through His love for us if we only receive it.

Doris

John 15:4,5,7
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me…”