In late 1991 we had been married almost 20 years. We had started a food ministry to the local poor and educational helps to some of the children. We thought we had been through quite a bit. Plans to move forward were in place. Then Linda had an aggressive breast cancer. Life changed in some respects. At this juncture (2011/2012), it is 20 years since the December/January time frame when she began aggressive treatment. Our walk of faith in Jesus Christ took us in places we did not expect to be, but our Comforter was with us. We still remember the plane flights to the cancer clinic and the first treatment. This winter we recalled that had been two decades with cancer. During that period we have walked through 4 separate cancers, tens of cycles the treatments, hundreds of scans or tests, effects that have affected myriads of decisions, and live with a statistical death warrant.
Two sketches of the night skies follow–one by each of us. They are a testimony because we continue to walk forward by God’s grace. Each sketch as attributes that reminds us of the occasion.
Linda sketched Cavalerius and Hevelius while I did Eddington. She sketched with ease beside me. The presentation is soft but distinctive. It reminds me of her softness through hard things. While her body is weakened and scarred, her mind and hands stay busy loving children by training the teachers that teach them in places like Nyamabuga, Uganda and Cabuyao, Philippines. She persists. If she cannot go 10 hours a day, she goes 4 hours and rests, but she continues nonetheless. And, when I see her sketch, I see her resilience.
A couple weeks later I sketched this well known edge-on galaxy. An edge-on view is fascinating to me because its placement makes it easy to miss because its presented area is so small and many of the galaxy’s details remain hidden.
An edge-on galaxy reminds me of our lives because the view is so limited. Our view of life is very limited. We only get a glimpse at things around us. Rarely do we understand everything happening. Linda and I periodically struggled with the attack by disease. We had to wrestle with the unknowns, and do it with our God, who does see all things. We learned in all things to be thankful–that God is still due our worship. The path of our circumstances did not always make the lesson easy, and we continue to learn it. However, I cannot deny we are stronger for it.
One part of the strength is our passion to teach practical observation of the stars from a biblical view. We started sketching during the second cancer treatment because I could use astro-video to deliver a telescope image of an object to Linda, who was too weak to stand over a scope. We never guessed that the skills would develop into a course and the course taken around the world.
This year–after more than 20 years of walking with a serious disease–Linda will return to the Philippines to teach teachers. During her days, scenes like this will happen. Some children knock on the door and walk in. They want to say good morning, or hear a story, or just be with this lady who knows so many stories. And the Comforter still walks with her. Our resilience has come with cost, but also fruit. We have everyone reason to believe we will be able to have more fruit. Until He takes us home, we shall continue.
