Sunday, April 28, 2013

The Dance of Life and Death

As a babe at the breast I received nourishment and strength.  From somewhere within ductal walls, by a miraculous biochemistry, liquid golden fluid brought forth a warm flow of life. 

And now, from those same ductal walls, my mother's body has birthed and grown death.  Stage 4 breast cancer.  The weight of the words falls heavy. 

The doctors make a plan, send death to bring life.  Use chemotherapy and radiation to kill the rapidly dividing cells.  They call it science, I call it sacred.  This concept isn't new.

Life is given.  Then death comes.  From death comes life.  Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. John 12:24

I can't claim to know what this journey will be for our family or how my mom will experience it.  Even as she moves forward into the treatment plan there are so many uncertainties.  It's exhausting and uncomfortable.  It can be frightening and overwhelming.  It's painful.  It brings out the worst and the best of us.  There is hope.  There is so much loving support.  There is new mercy every morning. 

I come alongside to lighten the load, to enter into this sacred space and step in time to the dance of life and death, anticipating the shift from death to more abundant life.

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