Walk This Road With Me, Will You?

Chapter 1
Well July 2012 has been what I will call the most life-changing month in my life of almost 55 years. The sheer fact that I am laying my life open for anyone and everyone to see is amazing in itself. If you know me well, you are aware that I am a pretty private person when it comes to my family and I. However lately I have learned that unless we share our stories, there is not much of a chance of helping others who may need our story to help them through theirs. 

This July has brought about two significant events in my life. One is spiritual and the other is physical. My spiritual journey is the one that I am most excited to tell you about. But in order to get your attention, I will begin with the physical one. 

A week ago I went to a pulmonary doctor because I had an abnormal chest xray. He ordered a PET scan and today he called me with the results. A mass in my right lung which he is 90% sure is cancer. The scan came back "highly suspicious" so he wants me to have the mass surgically removed. No,I have never smoked. But I have been on a drug for rheumatoid arthritis in which one of the side effects is possible cancer. The scan showed no other areas of concern so he feels that it is contained in my lung. I have an appointment scheduled to see a surgeon next week to get more details. 

I will be honest. The fear tries to creep in. How could it not? No one likes to hear that dreaded "C" word. I have spent the last week waiting for the results, hoping and praying for the best. And while I am so thankful it is only in one area, I am aware that I have a hard road ahead. If you are willing to listen, I will bring you along with me every step of the way. I need for you to come with me if you will. I need for you to say prayers for my family and I. Most of all, I am hoping that someone will be helped by my story. It is the sole reason for telling it.
I want you to know that I am ok. Really I am. I am hopeful and very optimistic that the surgery will take care of this. I feel prepared to walk whatever path I am destined to. 
The fear that tries to creep in doesn't last long. I know what to do. And it works. I have not always been able to say that about fear. I have had fears that were different than this one and they almost paralyzed me. But I have discovered the answer to paralyzing fear. I am confident that it will work every time. And In the times when I am weak and cannot seem to get it under control, I know that there are those who will remind me of the One who can destroy fear and replace it with a peace that is unexplainable. 
There are some of you who know exactly what I mean. This blog is for the ones who don't. My story is for the ones who have no use for God. Or church. Or anything religious for that matter. It is for the ones who have shut the door. The ones who just don't think about what happens after death. The ones whose fears paralyze them at times. The ones who are searching and searching for something that they just can't seem to find. The ones who desperately want to believe but the confusion just makes it seem impossible. I know. You are the ones I need with me on my journey. I want to tell you my story. I want to share what my search has led me to. There is no confusion. It's very simple. It's all real. It's all true. I would not tell you that if it wasn't so. 
It is what's going to take me through this.