Reflections from the Home Team - March 31, 2020

“May There Always be an Angel by Your Side…”

Greetings from Cedar Falls!

Many of us have begun using much of our energy wondering about what lies on the road ahead given the recent pandemic concerns. When faced with difficult situations and choices, my mind often tends to click into overdrive. I have to admit, my experiences with cancer treatments and their side effects has often taken over my thinking, and it was very easy to indulge them. Perseverance became a daily part of my existence. I also realized that if I indulged myself in worries, pain, and anxieties, they could quickly turn into idols. That is when I needed to remind myself to have confidence in God, trusting He will not forsake me in my time of need. I began to break free from them by trusting and refreshing myself in God’s word and letting Him into my heart. God doesn't expect perfection, it’s our effort that pleases Him. I have been making the effort by beginning each day connecting with Him through silent prayer and reading scripture. I need that boost given all that is going on in our community, nation and around the world. I am convinced my Guardian Angel, whom I affectionately refer to as Angelina, is awakening my heart yet again to the fact that God is in control and can be trusted to never leave us or forsake us.

I learned a while back to lean on my precious Home Team (both human and Divine) when indulging in the worries, pain and anxieties that come my way. With their help, I always seem to feel more alive, more awake, and more ready to take on the challenges that our life journeys can present, things like the Corona Virus we are presently battling.   As you are well aware, my life journey since being diagnosed with cancer has certainly given me an opportunity to do a lot of reflecting. Reading has given me new perspectives on many things. A good friend sent me a quote a number of years ago from Irish poet and philosopher John O’Donohue that has remained embedded in my heart…

May the angels in their beauty bless you,

May an angel of awakening stir your heart,

May an angel of healing turn your wounds into sources of refreshment,

May an angel of compassion open your eyes to the unseen suffering around you,

And may the angel of death arrive only when your life is complete,

And you have brought every gift to the threshold where its infinity can shine.  

I sincerely believe I have met several of those angels in my life so far. Without question, I have developed even more compassion for those not only suffering from cancer, but also those who may be struggling with what the future may hold at present. I want to reach out to share a message of hope and strength for those who may be facing similar battles. I especially wanted to share how important all of these connections have been in my journey as they have provided the strength and courage I needed to fight the fight, no matter what that battle may be. That is a very important part of the message of hope I want to communicate. Reaching out to others in my time of need wasn’t always easy, but it certainly was necessary! As for that last angel, I’m not quite ready to meet him/her yet as I think I still have some gifts to share with others before my life becomes complete within God’s plan for me.

As always seems to be the case in my life when things get a bit tough, I experience something that brings me back in focus. When I was first diagnosed with cancer, a good friend delivered to me a leaded glass angel that I have sitting next to me in my home office window. That art piece (pictured above) reminds me daily of my Guardian Angel, whom I have affectionately named Angelina. I think she was awakening my heart yet again helping me to realize my Home Team was there to help me through this whole pandemic situation. As I was sitting in my office this morning and thinking about being isolated and doing my part for social distancing on a dreary, rainy spring day, all of a sudden, the sunshine burst through and illuminated my leaded glass Angel.  I have always believed I have a Guardian Angel, and honestly, she has been quite busy in my life covering my back, especially over the last number of years! It was just then that I ran across a post titled “A Conversation with God” that was recently shared by another good friend which simply read:

A Conversation with God

Me: Okay, God, here's the thing. I'm scared. I'm trying not to be, but I am.

God: I know. Want to talk about it?

Me: Do we need to? I mean, you already know.

God: Let's talk about it anyway... We've done this before.

Me: I know, I just feel like I should be bigger or stronger or something by now.

God: *waiting patiently, unhurried, undistracted, never annoyed.

Me: Okay. So, I'm afraid I'll do everything I can to protect my family and it won't be enough. I'm afraid of someone I love, dying. I'm afraid the world won't go back to what it was before. I'm afraid my life is always going to feel a little bit unsettled.

God: Anything else?

Me: EVERYTHING ELSE.

God: Remember how your kids woke up the other night and came running down the hall to your bedroom?

Me: Yes.

God: You were still awake, so when you heard them running, you started calling out to them before they even got to you... remember? Do you remember what you called out to them?

Me: I said, "You're okay! You're okay! You're okay!"

God: Why did you call to them? Why didn't you just wait for them to get to your room?

Me: Because I wanted them to know that I was awake, and I heard them, and they didn't have to be afraid all the way to the end, of the dark hallway.

God: Exactly. I hear you, daughter. I hear your thoughts racing like feet down the            

dark hallway. There's another side to all of this. I'm there already. I've seen the end of it. And I want you to know right here as you walk through it all, you're okay. I haven't gone to sleep, and I won't.

Me: *Crying. Can we sit together awhile? Can we just sit here a minute before I go back to facing it all?

God: There's nothing I'd love more!

         

That post couldn’t have come at a better time for me! If there is one message, I want to get to people, it is that when faced with a difficult situation like cancer, Corona Virus, or for that matter, any tough situation, it is so important to reach out to others, especially  God, to have that conversation remembering as we all walk through it together, we are OK. Just a reminder… “For He will give His Angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways.” Psalm 91:11 We are under the constant care of God’s Angels as He gives each of His Angels a purpose with instructions to watch over us as His children. The Lord and His angels are always there, but so are friends and family. Be sure to access them, even if through a simple phone conversation!  We are built to live in community even though that may mean fewer in person hugs and greetings for the time being. 

I have also listed below a link to one of my favorite artists, Tommy Emmanuel, who plays my favorite song titled, “Angelina.” I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Link to: Tommy Emmanuel and "Angelina"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhR04kmcSXU

Be safe and be well!

Dave

Are you or someone you know fighting cancer... struggling with the physical, emotional and spiritual issues that accompany a cancer journey or other serious health issue? Making ourselves available to others can open up the doors of opportunity for deeper relationships, healing, and transformation. For many, time is one of the most valuable commodities in today's fast-paced world. Sharing time with others is a wonderful gift. It says, "Here I am. . . for you. To listen, to care, to serve." The power of presence should never be underestimated!  

Be an encourager in someone else’s life!

To learn more about being an encourager, and to view the Reflections blog, visit the Reflections from the Home Team website at:

www.reflectionsfromthehometeam.com/