Michael King
Life’s Challenges
A Cancer Story: The Gross Stuff
Because of the surgery I had where they removed the tumor and part of my colon I was left with a temporary ileostomy. For those who don’t know, a colostomy has to do with the large intestine, an ileostomy with the small intestine. Part of my small intestine was now on the outside of my body (not where … Continue reading
5 Things Suffering Reminds Us Of
Suffering serves a purpose. It does. If you look at it through the right set of lenses. Friedrich Nietzche said, “To live is to suffer, to survive is to find some meaning in the suffering.” It serves to humble us, focus us, clear away all the junk in life that has crowded our vision for … Continue reading
A Cancer Story: The Emotional Maelstrom
Part of cancer’s charm is the roller coaster of emotions brought on by both the disease and the treatment for the disease. Cancer’s part is mostly psychological, the constant reminder that life is tenuous, frail, here today, gone tomorrow. The disease is a bully, puffing out its chest and reminding you at every turn that … Continue reading
A Cancer Story: Feeling Vulnerable
I came home from the hospital forty pounds lighter than when I was diagnosed. Mind you, I was never a big guy to start with. My weight loss was all too obvious. I was a sliver of my former self. And weak. So weak. I could barely walk from the car into the house. The … Continue reading
A Cancer Story: The Deepest, Darkest Valley
Anyone who has ever gone through cancer is no stranger to life’s valleys. Cancer is a geography full of deep caverns and lightless places. But of all the highs and lows I experienced, the five days in the hospital following my colon resection and ileostomy surgery were by far the worst of my life. No doubt … Continue reading
A Cancer Story: From Cussing to Trusting
We spent the night before the big surgery at my parents’ home. They live twenty minutes from the hospital and since we had to be there so early it allowed the kids to go back to bed once we left in the morning. When I said my goodbyes to my darling daughters and my parents … Continue reading
A Cancer Story: Waiting for the Hammer to Fall
Immediately after seeing the surgeon I was sent for a CAT scan. This would show if the cancer had metastasized to any other organs. The scan was no big deal, a lot of “hold your breath, now breathe, hold your breathe, breathe.” The hard part was waiting for the results. And waiting. And waiting. It … Continue reading
John Piper: This Illness is for God’s Glory
This is one of the best sermons on God’s purpose for illness and suffering that I’ve ever heard. I just had to pass it along. If you don’t want to watch the whole video, at least read the notes below it. You’ll miss some of the good stuff Piper adds to it but still get … Continue reading
A Cancer Story: A Moment of Clarity
Cancer does a lot of things to you. It’s a formidable foe that deserves respect. From the beginning my oncologist told us we needed to respect this disease and not treat it lightly. It’s truly the stuff of life and death. And that has a profound effect on you. On the way you see life, the way … Continue reading
A Cancer Story: The First Time I Cried
The first time I cried about the cancer was about a week after diagnosis. I had already seen the surgeon and the oncologist. I’d gotten the news, the plan, and the prognosis. I knew what the next year would look like . . . or so I thought. But it was one morning on my … Continue reading
