WHY THIS? WHY NOW?

by Bob VerBurg

There are some questions that seem to have no answer.  Of my parents’ five sons, Brent is probably the most healthy.  He’s never smoked or drank excessively and has always keep his weight in check.

So why this?  Why now?

By the time August 5, 2018, Sunday arrived, everyone in our family heard the news: pancreatic cancer!  And we all knew the prognosis for that is very poor.  I found out from my brother Phil around 5am that day.  

(Later, a more definitive diagnosis ruled out pancreatic cancer and was replaced with a non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.)

Continuous waves of anxiety began to wash into my mind like an ever-rising tide.  

After church, many of us went to my parents’ house for lunch and I was surprised to find Sherry and her kids were also there.  

During lunch, my sense of panic and anxiety quickly dissipated and I noticed everyone seemed to be over the shock.

Sherry’s presence played no small part in reassuring everyone.  Along with minding their physical health, Brent and Sherry have also been very committed to minding their spiritual health.  

Brent and Sherry’s testimony: this is not a surprise or shock to God!  And nothing will happen outside of God’s will! 

And this sense of peace from Sherry and Brent was quickly settling into our extended family’s consciousness.

So what is God’s will here?  Only He knows that, but already Brent and Sherry’s testimony is having a profound effect on the people in their life.

The sense of panic has been replaced with a peace that comes only with a life-long relationship with God and this testimony is a witness to Brent and Sherry’s kids, our extended family and everyone who knows Brent!  What seems to us to be senseless development is providing inspiration and courage to everyone in Brent’s orbit.  

Regardless of how all this turns out, we can all take comfort in Brent’s and Sherry’s faith and the peace and assurance that comes with that.

Brent and Sherry are committed to keeping that faith no matter what happens.  They are not allowing this to negatively affect their kids.  Instead their kids, like all kids, are closely watching their parents and taking their cues from that spiritual faith.  This will no doubt have an effect on them.  But Brent and Sherry want this life lesson to be used by God to bring their kids ever closer to the Flame.