When the road ahead seems impassable, stand up; it's not impossible!

When the road ahead seems impassable, stand up; it’s not impossible!

Unfortunately, there are too many people who look beyond their ability to grapple with the negative occurrences that affect all of us.  The effects of heavy disappointments will create a block to our understanding of, get down and try again.  This may build a wall of fear within us

There are very few who can handle more than one or two losses of family or friends at the same time.  It can become either a slow progression of mental cop-outs or a sudden onslaught of uncontrollable depression.  Both can cripple a person’s ability to look at an ugly slap in the face unless they have a shoulder to lean on and assist them in getting their head in a positive outlook.  

Sickness or a more serious set-back from a fatal disease not only affects the patient, it absolutely can debilitate close family members as well as intimate friends.  As I write there are four family members suffering from cancer, kidney failure, and drug abuse.  One has cancer of the throat and tongue.  Another just found out he has colon cancer at 92 years of age  A third was taken off dialysis treatments because the doctors told him he is dying and that procedure will do him no good.  A granddaughter with Type I diabetes is fighting the drug culture and stands a good chance of succumbing to a tragic end.  

Are these uncommon or happen to only a few families?  Not at all.  But the atmosphere throughout the different family members shows a different response concerning each of these unfortunate individuals.  As they and their close families struggle with the future of each, we must remember that God is with them throughout each negative day.  

When the prayers seem to do nothing for the good news of recovery see the words of Jesus through St. Mark’s Gospel;  “See that no one deceives you.  Many will come in my name saying, “I am he,” and will deceive many.”  (Mk 13: 5b - 6).  Although this was where Jesus was using the eschatology of the end times as a warning, it can also apply to the moments of a prognosis for a fatal end of a life.  

In my distress I called upon the Lord; I cried out to my God.  From his temple he heard my voice, my cry to him reached his ears.  (Ps 18: 7).

Then call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.  (Ps 50: 15).

Faith in God’s releasing us from the pain of suffering and a complete healing is found in the grace he will pour out upon us the moment he calls our soul and ends our suffering and doubt.   

We always watch as a Mass of healing may not make us whole once again, but it will protect our soul as we enter into eternity.  

The prayers a group of us had for our friend Kay proved positive in a dream I had watching her enter a building with others representing going into her eternal blessing.  She looked at me and smiled as she knew her healing had finally come.  So it will be with our friends who wait in faith.

Ralph B. Hathaway