Scientific Information -- Too Little and Too Much

Dear Friend, take my advice; it will add years to your life. I'm writing out clear directions to wisdom way. I'm drawing a map to righteous road. I don't want you ending up in blind alleys or wasting time making wrong turns. Hold tight to good advice; don't relax your grip. Guard it well -- your life is at stake! Don't take wicked bypass; don't so much as set foot on that road. Stay clear of it; give it wide berth. Make a detour and be on your way. Proverbs 4:10-15 (MSG)

Dear Friend,
Even as King Solomon had life-giving advice to share with his friend, I'm convinced I, too, have advice that has the possibility of adding years to your life. I'm not being arrogant. I'm not trying to make you feel better by giving you false hope. I don't believe for a minute that lying to you about your situation is in your best interest. You deserve to know the truth, and I'm sure you wouldn't want our relationship to be based on lies and misinformation. What I am offering you are simply a couple of facts that you need to know. I believe they will lead you along "Wisdom Way" to longer life, health and peace.

" Predictions made by well-meaning doctors are frequently incorrect. I regularly teach a class called "Spirituality and Health" to cancer patients, many of whom have been told by their initial oncology experts that they have no hope; that they should go home, get their affairs in order and die. The truth is that many people live significantly longer -- years, in fact -- than their doctors' predictions. Do not believe anyone who tells you that you have X number of days, months or years to live. Your future is in God's hands -- God's alone -- and no one has the right to strip either of us of our hope.

" There is so much new information about cancer and how to treat it that many doctors find themselves almost paralyzed by the glut of new information, uncertain about what to do next for their patients. Occasionally, I teach "Spirituality and Health" seminars to doctors and other medical professionals, and I begin by referring to the information glut, which I learned about in an article in the New England Journal of Medicine: The yawning chasm between what we know and what we do for patients is no longer news; indeed, the reported evidence is somewhat numbing. We are far less sure what to do next.¹

I have a tremendous amount of respect and empathy for the medical profession. How in the world is it possible to stay on top of all the latest developments in cancer treatment? Our doctors deserve our understanding and prayers. Often only the best and brightest are privileged to enter the field of medicine, and they are nearly always the threshold to the door of healing.

Here's the truth I ask you to consider: Modern research is completely rewriting the statistics on cancer to the end that it is now considered to be a chronic disease, like diabetes, instead of a fatal disease. The survival rates continue to climb. Can it be fatal? Of course. Is there hope that you can either learn to live with your cancer or be cured of it? Yes, I believe there is, because I am around people all the time who have beaten the odds. Why not you?

Lord, help my friend to put her trust in You. Today, lead her toward "Righteous Road," and help her steer clear of "Wicked Bypass," which leads only to pessimism, self-defeating attitudes and hopelessness. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Reprinted by permission of the author from his book A Season for Hope and through the courtesy of the publisher, Cook Communications Ministries.

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