That Solid Place
Many long-time readers know that here, and on my blog, I refer to leukemia as if it were a real person. I call him Leuk. This somehow makes it easier for me to fight the battle against an otherwise invisible enemy.
Though Leuk is lurking in the background, his very presence makes many of us re-examine our beliefs, especially in matters of faith. Some get closer to God, others pull away. Some lose their faith entirely.
What is faith?
So, what is faith? The dictionary defines it as “a strong belief in God or in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual apprehension rather than proof.”
I, at this point in my life anyway, consider myself an agnostic. I am not an atheist. I don’t disbelieve in God, I simply know that I can’t prove or disprove his existence. At the same time, my Christian upbringing plays an important role in my life. I suppose, if I must choose a label, I’m an agnostic theist. Without digging too deep into all this, let’s just say that agnosticism is simply a philosophy about knowledge. It doesn’t exclude belief in God.
Having a spiritual life is profoundly important, especially for those of us who have a life-threatening disease. It gives us hope when, for some, hope is all they have to hold on to.
I would guess most of our Blood-Cancer.com readers are religious, but I’ll bet there are some of us agnostics and even a few atheists here as well.
The importance of finding hope
Whatever your beliefs, it is important to dig deep within yourself and find hope, that very powerful motivator that keeps us fighting on.
Hope is not logical. It is not scientific. It often defies reason. It can’t be mixed up in a lab or rubbed on the forehead with holy oil. It can’t be bought with tithes, nor conjured by ceremony.
No scientist or priest can bestow you with hope. It has to come from deep inside you. Its only source is a simple leap of faith.
Finding the solid place
That’s why I think a spiritual life is so important. I believe there is something more, something beyond us. I don’t know exactly what it is. I can’t claim to understand it. I can’t find any empirical data to confirm any of this.
And, though some might claim it, I don’t think any of us has a corner on “Ultimate Truth.”
Neither a doctorate in theology nor years in scientific research will grant you enlightenment. Perhaps proof isn’t necessary and wisdom, not enough. Maybe all it takes to find the peace that hope offers is a simple child-like faith.
Leuk doesn’t care what beliefs you hold, how many scripture verses you’ve memorized, or scientific papers you’ve published. In fact, he might be determined to undermine your faith and attack whatever shred of hope you have left. But don’t let him. Find that solid place within your soul. Make yourself some firm ground to stand on.
And don’t give up. Never give up.
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