Investment in health research will pay off

Steve Farrell PHD writing a post for Cooper Aerobic Institute informs us, “It’s no secret that cancer is the second leading cause of death for women in the U.S., accounting for approximately 275,000 deaths per year. This causes not only a tremendous physical and emotional toll, but also places a significant economic burden on society. Approximately $90 billion is spent each year on the direct costs of cancer such as medication, hospital, physician, and nursing services.”

Cancer no matter the gender is a big deal and the numbers tell us the impact cancer has on our lives. Without a doubt the impact is even greater when cancer hits us personally. 

Since the Fall, Genesis 3, sin and death has ruled over our lives. Work which became harder holds back some of the impact of the fall. For example, you build a home and you are sheltered from the storm. We have learned how to better insulate our homes and in turn that help us endure Extreme cold and heat. 

The investment in discovery of the things it kills us has more than doubled our lifespan. It wasn't easy, it was hard work, it was costly and here we are. There are many things unexplored regarding our health. We have a long way to go unraveling how to repair the brain. We have a long way to go in regard to cancer. Repairing and regenerating our bodies are in the infancy of development. Most things that kill us we have no cures. Our bodies are capable of overcoming things, but most things we put into remission rather than a cure. 

What do we gain when we help those who cannot help themselves? Whether we are looking at the elderly fighting dementia, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, or diabetes it is good to remember that every one of us if we live long enough will be in the same fight. What we learn today will help us tomorrow. We have to be big minded in this way.

Pictured here is an older gentleman suffering from
loneliness. Is he forgotten? It takes work to care.

What did we learn about people with multiple disabilities that cannot earn a living themselves? These things are very costly but there is an amazing benefit that comes from caring for people who cannot care for themselves. 

We learn things and treating extreme conditions bring us unexpected consequences that just may help you in a bad time in your life. What is learned in the costly care of the disabled will lead to discoveries that will help us dealing with the disabilities of aging and disease?

There is a principle found in Matthew 26 that has guided me when I helped people who are either hard to help (an idiot) or have difficult disabilities that take a lot of work. Many of these people are sweethearts, but not all of them. I always kept in mind someone was watching and it did matter. It is easy to help beautiful healthy people. But it is quite another matter when you're helping someone who for whatever reason have no way to pay you back or even to say thanks. 

Was it worth it to help them? I will be honest with you I have debated this. The principle that Jesus gave has often turn the scales for me to help. I doubt many people knew my struggle or why I went ahead and helped. But here was one of the game changers for me: 

Jesus said, ’Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’

It takes hard work to defeat cancer. It is very costly, but what was the alternative. Progress is being made, there is hope. Keep walking

How those who are strong can encourage us

I've been thinking about Psalm 34:2, "my soul will boast in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice." Who are the afflicted? Are they the ones who are mistreated, letdown, or are they poor, have some other disadvantage? I have always tried to overcome my weaknesses, handicap, nor even fears. As I look back I realize that despite my handicap it's kind of made me strong. I was reading in When Nietzsche Wept, "whatever doesn't kill me makes me stronger." I don't know about that statement.  I think sometimes many things can happen and we can be overwhelmed. But there's something about steel of character and it's about not by easy things but the hard things.
I think it's a good idea to let our kids experience problems. We can set a boundary on that experience and let them know we were behind them. But letting them work at their problems will make them stronger and let me introduce the idea of teaching them to pray. Being strong physically, mentally and emotionally doesn't exclude our need of God and prayer. God works through gifted people and people of character. The human need of salvation and the gift of eternal life is for both the strong and weak. If we think of the strong as not needing God then I don't think we see how it works. If someone thinKs they don't need God they are a fool, Ps, 14:1.
I have an exaggerated fear of helplessness. And I will doing anything I can to be an  overcomer. That used to be a theme in psychology books back in the 70s. Striving to overcome, to build up ourselves, to work at things so that in our life can be better that's a good thing. Some things don't come easy, there isn't really an easy road for it.
The occasion of Psalms 34 is David here acting the crazy man, he had put himself between a rock and hard place. Saul was trying to kill him and the Philistines were in front of him, and he ran out of options. David the champion for the Lord finds himself in a place where he couldn't do anything to save himself. That is hard place to be for anyone who is a strong person. I know how hard it is sometimes bend a knee, to ask for help. In Psalm 34 records his experience of trusting God when he is in a difficult life threatening situation.
To often we think others should care for those in need. We are fortunate to live in a country where we are generous that way. I have been challenging myself to find ways of doing things myself. It is not good enough to look back, somehow it still matters as an old man. I don't want a pat on the back. The truth is what ever I do it won't be enough. I only write of it to stimulate thought and action for any of us to keep at it and make it personal.
Think about widows and orphans, about those who for  no fault of themselves by himself unable to care for themselves. We might be strong without someone else, but when the light turns around and we are the ones who have that need even temporary, it is challenging. James 1:27 talks about people who are in distress, and if you we can help them to be relieved so they can go on to care for themselves, to work things out for a better situation that is a good religion. People being people there will always be someone in need. But hopefully meeting somebody's distress they can rebuild their life and give to someone else has a need.
Read through the psalm, David got to the bottom line, it's a place we really don't want to go to but we get there sometimes. All of his resources, his strength, the things that made him heroic were of no use to him and faking insanity I think in his heart, he cried out for God to help. You can check out the story but he lived through that crazy time and God protected him many times. If the strong cry out to God, which I think we think of is rare, but when they do many are encouraged. Keep walking