The Walk Beside

The Best Year Of My Life!

Posted on October 2nd, 2008 by Cam.
Categories: Let's talk.

I was in my hometown last weekend and I ran into someone who used to teach me in high school. We were chatting for a while, catching each other up on what has been happening in our lives. This lady knew of my predicament, and had been following my progress over the year or so. She was recounting how she had been told that this had been the best year of my life. I was quite shocked by this, and still am.

I am sorry to disappoint. But on all accounts it sounds like I should have had the most wonderful of years. To be honest though, I have had better.

I had to apologize to the lady and tell her the truth. I said I have actually had a terrible year. “Thank goodness, you are real!” she laughed with a sense of relief.

There is a train of thought that I don’t relate to at the moment. It involves thinking that something like cancer is the best thing that happens to someone. Now I am not saying that I may not get to that point, but I am honestly not there yet, I don’t expect to be, and I don’t want to be. I liked not having cancer – true, I really liked it.

There are a few reasons why I think people try to perceive nasty situations as being great. Sometimes, it may be due to the pressure placed on people in some circles to smile in the face of tragedy, fearing that a quivering lip may show a lack of faith, strength, certainty, hope. Of course, it may also be a way to protect oneself from the harsh realities of life – if it is talked up as being positive, there is no need to deal with the traumas that we come across in this life. When I think of this response in relationship to how God would see it, I am convinced he doesn’t need us to talk up tragedies so that he doesn’t look as bad.

I am very wary when people immediately reflect on a terrible situation and declare how much good came out of it. This is not to say that good things can’t happen in the midst of trauma, but it doesn’t help me personally to see them as cause and effect. I am sure most people completely understand that the year has been difficult, and I am not interested in reiterating the struggles – I think we’ve all had enough, but I feel it is important to make things clear all the same.

I remember hearing of someone’s funeral where the friends and family were ushered prematurely into a time of celebrating the life of the departed. In an attempt to lessen the sad reality of the situation, the gathered were led in triumphant songs and the mood of the service was kept light. Days after the service had taken place, they repeated the service for those who needed to engage in a time of grieving. They had endured a devastating loss, and they were ballsy enough to let the loss wreak havoc with their spirit for that time. It was time to respond honestly.

For me, there have been so many things happen over the year and a half that make me very happy, and I wouldn’t want to give them up. It has been a chaotic mix of highs and lows. There are still many things to be thankful for and there have been fantastic times throughout.

My perception on this may change in the future, I am not sure, but for now I am happy I am alive and experiencing an extension of time thanks to a terrible year of treatment. I never want to do that again.

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