December 2013

The Third Day of Christmas: An Angel Sent to Tell

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The cancer journey involves many notifications, the exchange of news, lab results, or even game-changers mid-way through a course of treatment. Most often, the messenger is the doctor, or in my case one of three doctors representing various disciplines. In the past week, I have had a sit-down with each: the radiology oncologist (last Friday), the surgeon (Tuesday), and the medical oncologist (Friday). Yesterday’s encounter was the summary decision-making meeting. After collating all the data culled from a definitive CT scan and the surgeon’s assessment of it, Dr. Chen brought into yesterday’s meeting a proposal for further treatment: one more […]

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The Second Day of Christmas: A Virgin Deep in Thought

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One of the delightful side-stories to my cancer journey is about getting to know my caregivers. All my doctors (medical oncologist, radiology oncologist, and surgeon) are women with unique and distinguished backgrounds. After this morning, I will have seen all three within a week, and each has provided good information to me even as they have stayed in close touch with each other. It is more than comforting to know how well they collaborate and how they have kept me briefed on progress, decision-points, and options. My family and I met with the surgeon on Tuesday to discuss the next

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The First Day of Christmas: A Baby Wrapped in Cloth

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A perfectly lovely day unfolded for the Naegeli family yesterday. We surrounded each other with love, gifts, food, frivolity, and even a little suspense, in the form of Daddy’s Treasure Hunt. When I needed to sleep, I just conked out in my recliner; when I awoke I was amazed by what the others had done in the meantime. Around the tree, a major gift theme for me was fabric, in the form of soft clothing, head scarves, and cute hats. I am set for life in the scarf department, now with several great colors and patterns to choose from. Each

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Christ in My World and Yours: The Gospel of John

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I awoke this morning at 2 o’clock thinking about the decision-making meeting with my surgeon at 11. The feelings were not trepidation, but excitement and a teacher’s love for detail. And then I remembered what day it is—Christmas Eve!—and my chosen spiritual discipline for the week, and the absolute necessity of putting even a medical consultation in the context of Christ’s glorious Incarnation. So today, we turn to the fourth gospel, John’s late-first-century rendering of the person and work of Jesus Christ. John, having believed in Christ now for decades and staking his life upon the claims Jesus made while

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Christ Enters My World: The Gospel of Luke

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Today we come to the most beloved version of the Christmas story, the long narrative found in the gospel of Luke. The orderly account of extraordinary events shouts “Miracle! Miracle!” from the beginning of chapter 1 to the end of chapter 2, a total of 120 verses. The details, the characters, the cast of thousands (angels, shepherds, a crowded Bethlehem) surround the essential, sacred truth: God broke into history, conceiving Jesus in Mary’s womb, birthing him away from home (literally and figuratively) under difficult circumstances, and working the redemption that would save the world from its sin. We catch a

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Christ Enters My World: The Gospel of Mark

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I continue to push back against the tide of other topics and preoccupations this week, to ponder in a new way the meaning of Christmas. If Christ came into the world, is it not reasonable to appreciate that he came into my world (and our world) as well? If he did that, his incarnation surely has an impact on the conduct of my life. Today we turn the page to the gospel of Mark, which has no birth narrative. The story of Jesus’ life starts thirty years later, with the prophetic announcement of his cousin John: “Prepare the way of

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Christ Enters My World: Christmas According to Matthew

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Preachers have a dual challenge each week, to exegete a scriptural text for preaching and to interpret where their people are in a position to hear it. Because of my current detachment from my church family for wisdom’s sake (avoidance of the colds and flu going around), it seems as though the last thing on my mind these days is Christmas. I have not seen the decorations in the sanctuary, attended a party, or even completed my Christmas shopping. Unlike yours, perhaps, my mental space is occupied at the moment with this decision that will be made on Christmas Eve

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God’s Strength When I Am Weak

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My energy level is quite low on Day 4 to 5 of chemo Round 2. Have you ever felt tired of being tired? That’s where I am today, after a fitful night’s sleep. If there is any consolation, I detect a pattern emerging and there’s a good and logical explanation. The medicine is a poison slaying the Beast! All my healthy cells are working hard! Radiation is assaulting the intruder, causing some collateral damage in the fray! As one of my readers has commented previously, “I’m praying you just get through this, Mary . . .,” so this is one

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Living in Suspense

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One of the pleasures of a quiet life, and the hours each day spent in the chemo chair, is reading a good recreational book. Right now I’m working on a legal thriller called Havana Requiem by Paul Goldstein. This tightly written novel by the Stanford author unfolds in Grisham style to reveal the rich tapestry of pre- and post-revolution Cuba, and particularly the music associated with it. Some of the “Aha” moments are discoveries of cultural significance (as opposed to “a body in the library,” although one gets that, too). All in all, it has me in suspense. So you

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Living Water Keeps Flowing

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At least once a week, a surprise package arrives in the mail or on my front porch. These random acts of kindness have come from friends far and near, who have sent not a Christmas present but an “open me now” gift of encouragement. Honestly, I am put to shame for lack of creativity all these years walking alongside buddies who have had cancer or some other life-altering medical condition. Just a sampling: Emily sent a pair of cashmere socks which I wear all the time now; Viola sent two headscarves, one so clever I had to call her for

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