I have just read an article in The Sun about a 15 year old girl – Alice Pyne – who has been battling cancer for 4 years. She has Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, the same as me (although there are so many sub-types etc. that it is most likely not exactly the same), but it has spread rapidly around her body and she has had to undergo some very hard times. This is a link to her blog. She was inspired by the film ‘The Bucket List‘ starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. A Bucket List is a ‘to do’ list before you die; to live life to the full before it is time to leave this life. I am sure we’ve all wanted to compile a ‘Things to do before I die’ list at some point with the philosophy of ‘living life to the full’ and ‘life is what you make it’ and ‘you only get one shot’ etc. I am going to be thinking of a bucket list myself now. This young girl is so very amazing and she has drawn attention to some very important and worthwhile causes as well as her condition – my condition.
However, I am extremely grateful that I have been fortunate enough to notice my cancer responding well to treatment. I am not going to take life or health for granted. I will not know if it has gone completely for 5 years which is how long they give you before the ‘all clear’ and even then, who knows? I think this is an uplifting and encouraging idea – to really gain perspective on what you want out of life, the things and people that are important to you etc… but I don’t think we should sit on the fence and wait for something as drastic as a life changing condition to make us realise what is important to us.
As a Christian, I try and see God in all of my circumstances, even the really awful ones. He has been my comforter and peace throughout my trials of Lymphoma amongst other things. Why do good people suffer? If God is all powerful and all knowing why does so much suffering happen in the world? I am going to write some blog entries on this, so watch this space. It is not all doom and gloom. I will be praying more for guidance on how to approach others about topics such as suffering and life after death/why are we here etc. I understand some of you may think what I am writing is a waste of time, but I hope that through it, you will be comforted and understand that there is a God who is always there.
Ruth
An Anchored Hope 
I have thought about making a ‘things to do before i perish’ list, but what would i put on it? Possibly something about swimming in an ocean, sky diving and some kind of sailing trip. I think they all appeal because of the amount of space that is involved, and how free you are when you do them. I didn’t realise you’d have to wait five years for the all clear, i’m sure if you make the five years with nothing wrong the chance for things to change are remote?
Really enjoyed the read, keep it up! š
x