WithoutWax.tv by Pete Wilson | Tag Archive | cancer
Tag Archive - cancer

A Perspective Bomb

June 28, 2011 in Spiritual Growth with 58 Comments

Last Thursday night I took one of my weekly trips to Lowe’s. I can’t even remember exactly what I needed but there’s something about Lowe’s that I just love. I could spend hours walking around that place coming up with things I “need.”

After I found what I was looking for I headed to the outdoor checkout counter which I thought would be faster. As I rounded the corner with my one, maybe two items I saw the lady in front of me with several (as in 4 or 5) push carts full of flowers and plants. I knew it was a mistake to get behind her, but I was already committed and somewhat stuck.

I had NEVER seen one individual buying so many flowers and one time. I thought, “Surely they have a special line for people buying this much stuff.” It literally took the checkout guy a solid ten minutes to ring up all of her stuff. I grew increasingly frustrated and in my passive aggressive manner started huffing and looking up and to the right every 30 to 45 seconds.

I even took the following picture with the intention of twittering a smart alec remark.

But then it happened. You might be asking, “What happened?”  It was what I call the perspective bomb.

The guy behind the counter, who was also somewhat perplexed by the large quantity of flowers, bravely asked the lady what she was going to do with all of this.

The lady hesitated for a second and then replied, “My best friend found out this week she has stage four breast cancer. She’s always wanted a really nice garden so I’m going over to her house to plant all of this for her to enjoy when she gets back from the hospital.”

Boom! That’s a perspective bomb.

Instantly everything changed. I was no longer focused on my self-centered, ego-driven, desires to get out of there as quickly as I could. I was suddenly reminded what a gift it was for me to be standing there waiting in line.

I was blessed to be there and be healthy.

I was blessed to be there and be able to afford to make my purchase.

I was blessed as I thought about countless friends who would probably do similar things for me if I ever found myself in such a horrible position.

Amazing how a little perspective can change everything isn’t it?

 

We’ll Miss You

July 28, 2008 in Cross Point Church, Friends, Leadership, Religion with 36 Comments

Dear Melissa,

Well, this week you were finally healed of cancer. You weren’t healed in the way that many of us were praying, but God healed you allowing you to defeat death and enter in His presence.

I just wanted to take a second to say “thank-you” for being such an inspiration to me and so many others. You were an inspiration to me long before you were diagnosed cancer, but God used you in a powerful way in my life over this past year.

Watching you serve in Kidz World, go on a mission trip, and lead a Bible study while in the midst of fighting cancer did something to my heart. You truly allowed God’s light to shine through you in the darkest of days.

I snapped this picture of you and Lance on my phone at the church picnic just a few weeks ago. I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed the conversation we had over lunch. We talked about life, vacations, and family. At the end you encouraged me to “stop working the picnic” and go hang with my family. I know you had a heightened sense of what was really important in life.

This weekend I spent time jotting down notes about your life.  It amazes me how you have impacted so many people in such a short time. I’m reminded looking through these notes that we have one pass at life. I’m so thankful you didn’t settle for a mediocre life.

It’s now Monday morning and I’m preparing for your send-off party we’re going to have at church in a few hours. I’m praying it will turn out just as you wanted, one more opportunity for God to be glorified through your life!

We miss you. Lance misses you. I know Thomas misses you. But we will move forward. We will move forward, but never be the same. For God has allowed our lives to be enriched from simply walking this path of life with you. What a gift!

I loved being your pastor,

Pete


Are You Addicted To Your Cell Phone?

July 25, 2008 in Cross Point Church, God, Religion with 67 Comments

I’ve heard rumors for years that cell phones could possible be linked to cancer. According to this TIME ARTICLE I read yesterday, at least one doctor actually thinks they do!

The head of a prominent cancer research institute issued an unprecedented warning to his faculty and staff Wednesday: Limit cell phone use because of the possible risk of cancer.

The warning from Dr. Ronald B. Herberman, director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, is contrary to numerous studies that don’t find a link between cancer and cell phone use, and a public lack of worry by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Sounds like a bunch of hogwash to me. But just in case, I might start using my hands free device.

I’m not too worried about getting cancer from my phone, but I am focused on reducing the “noise” it creates in my life.

I’m very excited to announce that starting this weekend I will not be getting work emails on my phone for the first time in years! Planning on making this a habit from here on out. Just one more step toward reducing the noise so I can become the person I feel God is calling me to be.

While we are talking about cell phones, I’ve got a couple of questions.

1) What kind of cell do you have? (I have an iphone)

2) How many minutes a day (on average) do you spend on your cell? (I talk about 90 minutes a day, usually in the car)