The Fault in Our Stars

I read “The Fault in Our Stars” by John Green (of Vlogbrothers fame) while on vacation last week. One reference in this book sent my thoughts in directions I just can't seem to shake. We’ve all heard the term, "battling cancer" where the analogy is a bit like fighting a war. Those who go through the intensive process of treatment for cancer can certainly attest to the fact the search for a cure is often worse than the havoc the disease wreaks on the human body.  

I can't help think cancer battles (like so many other battles) cause injury to more than just those who take the direct 'hit' (read: diagnosis). Everyone nearest them carries shrapnel wounds. The battles we fight can be many: cancer, depression, divorce, PTSD, abuse, rape, alcoholism, addiction, rejection, grief, etc. When someone we love goes through it…our acts of love put us close enough to the ‘line of fire’ that we become ‘wounded’ too…and we carry those wounds long after the 'battle' is over. Those in the ‘thick’ of it rely on our love and support to help them through the ‘battle’ and we would not be anywhere else but by their side. Green says, “You [we] don’t get to choose if you [we] get hurt in this world, but you [we] do have a say in who hurts you [us].” We choose those we travel this life with, and we take on the risk of injury when we make that choice. Ultimately we choose who has the ability to hurt us…but also who has permission to love us.

Our wounds are part of what love is…and that is also part of what church is…just a bunch of us traveling through this difficult world celebrating life’s triumphs and holding one another through the hurts. Psalm 121 seems so fitting, “I lift up my eyes to the hills—from where will my help come?” Our strength comes from God…and we will share it with whoever is in need…whenever there is need.

Another great quote from the book is this: “You gave me a forever within a number of days. I can’t tell you how thankful I am for our little infinity.” That should be our prayer of thanksgiving to God. There are no promises other than what we have right here, right now. Tomorrow is held in the hands of God and if we arrive at that point, then that adds to our little piece of infinity and adds to our opportunities to share our pain and our love.

(This book will become a movie this summer. Watch the movie trailer here.)

Blessings,
Tracy