Two young people lost their lives to it last year. Both younger than me. One lost it within the span of half a year since the first diagnosis, the second within a year.

The year before that… a very close relative lost her life to it.

A few months ago, news was received that a dear friend is battling it…

And just tonight, found out that a daughter of a very dear family friend (who’s almost like a relative) is about to be defeated by it (!)

Finding it really hard to see the effects that it has. Not just on those who got it, but also on their loved ones, and every one else around them…

It used to be a stranger to me. A name without face… A concept unknown…

But now… Now I know why that word is so dreaded by people. Now I know the power that it holds on this side of heaven…

It is no longer a stranger… No longer faceless… No longer unknown.

Been wanting to post this since a few days ago. But been distracted by a few other things. Anyway, just read someone’s notes and I thought – now is probably a good time to post this…

Read this in one of the books I just finished reading, but plan to re-read since I started a while back: (warning: it’s in Old English. But the context should help you understand some difficult words. And it’s so worth your effort!)

I beseech you, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that none of you do run so lazily in the way to heaven as to hinder either yourselves or others. I know that even he which runs the laziest, if he should see a man running for a temporal life, if he should so much neglect his own well-being in this world as to venture, when he is a-running for his life, to pick up here and thee a lock of wool that hangeth by the wayside, or to step now and then aside out of the way to gather up a straw or two, or any rotten stick, I say, if he should do this when he is running for his life, thou wouldst condemn him; and dost thou not condemn thyself that dost the very same in effect, nay worse, that loiterest in thy race, notwithstanding thy soul, heaven, glory, and all is at stake. Have a care, have a care, poor wretched sinner, have a care!

From the Heavenly Footman by John Bunyan

Bunyan is one amazing writer! He has this great ability to tell a Biblical truth in a way that people can relate to in their lives!

If you haven’t got what’s written in the quote, then re-read it again! Isn’t what he said right? When you are running for your life – say chased by an angry bear or fire – would you stop every now and then to pick up “oh, cute-shaped rock!” or “ooh, look, a nice-coloured leaf!”? Seriously! Would you?!

Would you pay so much attention to what is along the path, collecting things – useless things that would slow you down in your effort to save your life??! Would you?!

What would you say if you see someone does that?! Wouldn’t you think that the person is dumb?! Plain stupid?! Losing his life for some rocks or leaves or twigs?!

Then, isn’t your soul – your eternal life even more important than your few years on this earth?! And so the race to save your eternal life is a lot more important than the race to save your earthly life?!

Shouldn’t we consider those collecting rocks, leaves, feather and twigs in their heavenly race, to be out of their minds then?! Shouldn’t we consider them plain stupid?!

What?! Losing your life because you languish?! Because those things slow you down?! So what if you collect the most twigs or feathers or rocks or leaves?! You still lose your life!

That’s sad… There is nothing to envy from them! That’s just plain sad!