Friday night I went to an unusual party. One of my uncles threw a surprise party for his wife. He took her out for supper and then acted like he'd forgotten the tickets for the event they would be attending so they had to return home to get them. In the meantime friends and family had gathered in their living room. A son had driven 7 hours to make it home for Mom's party. Some had driven 4 hours (or more since they got stuck behind an accident) and one couple had taken a two hour flight. Some were old college friends and others from around the corner. All those people kept it a surprise and I think it is safe to say that Aunt Nancy was overwhelmed when the blindfold was taken off and she discovered a house full of guests whose sole purpose was to celebrate her life. That's what made it unusual.
About 10 years ago Nancy was diagnosed with breast cancer. I was on another continent at the time so I know few of the details of her treatment or what that road was like for her and her immediate family. I do know that she came through the treatments and is now cancer free. That is reason enough to celebrate. But there is more. Everyone in their home Friday night was very thankful that Nancy is a cancer survivor but we are also thankful for her character. Several told of how she had been a comfort and encouragement to them. She knows what not to say and because she had walked a hard road she has accompanied others on their hard roads in a way she couldn't have before. Her story has added depth to her character and strength to her faith.
I read this past week about how none of us like to go through hard times whether they be physical, financial, vocational, relational or any other ___al. We like comfort and ease. But as any athlete, musician, artist or student knows, progress is not made in comfort and ease but by being pushed and stretched sometimes beyond what we think is our breaking point. We don't like that discipline but we do like the results. I'm sure Nancy and her family wouldn't chose to walk down that road again but I think I can safely say that they grateful for how it has changed them and helped them grow.
There were a couple of other cancer survivors there last night. One of those is Aunt Suzanne. She has brain cancer and is currently undergoing a second round of chemo treatments. Yet she's a survivor; she's already lived longer than the average with her kind of cancer. She and her family are in the middle of a longer road than Aunt Nancy's. We don't yet know what kind of meadow will open up for Suzanne when she comes out of this valley. But, as one of the women said last night, whatever happens it will be alright.
That's why we can celebrate. It's not because Aunt Nancy is a 10 year cancer survivor or Aunt Suzanne has beaten the average. It's because of Jesus and the hope he gives. Without him, no celebration lasts. With him the celebration is eternal.
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