It's Time for Testing

It's finally time for testing.
Next week Monday (if his blood work says it's ok...), Carl has two MRI's and a CAT scan scheduled to see how the tumor is responding to the radiation and chemotherapy. (Carl says they are going to test him to see if he learned anything yet.)

I think back to tests in High School and College. You could study and prepare for tests, and therefore control the outcome. Here, when the outcome is critical, we can't even influence the result. We can pray, (and many, many prayers are being said and have been said), and we can hope.

And then I feel I shouldn't need to hope, prayer should be enough. I worry that I am undoing the results of prayer by wondering if the praying is "working".

(in Mark 9:23 Jesus says "... Everything is possible for him who believes." from Mark 9:24 "the boy's father exclaimed, I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!")

Prayer has helped me in life, particularly in recent years. (OK, I'm not sure I really prayed with any expectations or hopes as a child, although being raised Catholic meant you prayed nearly daily, at meals and at night, etc.) I believe in the power of prayer. I have "experimented" with prayer and been amazed, (startled?) by the (bizarre?) "coincidences" that have resulted. Coincidences? NOT. But praying away cancer seems so much harder. I know others who have "beaten" cancer, I want that result so badly, yet I am worried that I won't "be lucky".

I take comfort in this passage from Isaiah 55:8-9:

"My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD.
"As the heavens are higher then the earth,
So are my ways higher then your ways
And my thoughts higher the your thoughts."

Like an adult smiling down at a child's understanding, this passage encourages me that God will smile down at my worries, my childlike feelings on prayer. He won't let my momentary doubts undo the passionate praying that has been going on, including prayers by some really strong believers, pastors, and church elders.

from Matthew 17:20 "... I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, "Move from here to there" and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

Many of those prayers have been from some of the most faithful people I know.

James 5:14-15 "Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up."

Several pastors and faithful elders have prayed over Carl, laying hands on him and saying prayers of healing.

Catholic Memorial High School and over seven churches have said prayers for Carl, including Crossroads Presbyterian, Alliance Bible Church, St Mary's, Heritage Presbyterian, and more, and (hopefully) pastors in 3 different states.

I hope and pray that the MRI's and CAT scans on Monday afternoon, Feb 22, 2010, will show healing, and perhaps even a miracle; and I thank you once again for your prayers.