Retrospect

    This article was written in 1996. The events of the past month, and past three years, make this an article worth revisting. Austin had a special party in Lance’s honor this past Saturday. He flew home with another “hometown” boy, President Bush. Lance has helped raise millions of dollars for cancer research and is a living inspiration for many who face cancer. He and his wife have visited countless children with cancer. They are blessed with one child of their own and have twins on the way.

    I am thankful that Lance Armstrong was delivered from his cancer and won the Tour de France for a third time. What you may not know is that Lance’s cancer, originally testicular, spread all over his body and his doctors gave him little or no chance for survival — most had written him off as terminal. He had lesions removed from his brain and had a large number of tumors (12 or so) in his lungs close the size of golf balls. Lance will be the first to say that the battle with cancer strengthened and toughened him so that he is able to do today what he can do.

    Underneath the articles in HEARTLIGHT this week, there is a subtle theme about overcoming obstacles and hardships to be who God wants us to be. While I never want anyone to have to face cancer, those who face it with faith and dignity leave behind a legacy of courage, integrity, and hope. You will also notice that we have included a companion article today. This one is about a hero you probably don’t know, but one whom I love and admire. His name is Ronnie Fisher. He is one of my Elders. He is beloved and precious and in a battle for his physical life. This battle may very well claim his physical body, but the Lord has used it to win many spiritual victories. So wherever you are and whatever you face, please, please, don’t give up. Grace wins. Though our bodies will wither and fail like the grass in the scorching summer heat, we belong to the Lord, whose love and grip on us will not fail.

Remembrance

    What an amazing blend of power, grace, and determination! Lance Armstrong, from my hometown, has been one of the world’s most dominant bicyclists for the last three or four years. While not as well known a celebrity in the United States, he is recognized and mobbed at every public appearance in Europe.

    Bicycle racing is an immensely physical and grueling sport. Only the best athletes survive its tortuous climbs, blinding speeds, and rigorous training. Only the most elite of athletes can be considered with the best in the cycling world. Lance Armstrong was such an elite athlete. In his middle twenties, he amazed everyone when he climbed to the top of the world rankings so quickly.

    But the summer of 1996 was supposed to be the summer of his greatest triumphs. The Tour de France and the Atlanta Olympics were to be his shining moment. But they weren’t. For some unknown reason, he had lost his stamina and drive. Those who knew him well knew it wasn’t a loss of heart or poor conditioning. There was something very wrong. During the fall of ‘96, he has undergone two surgeries to find and remove what everyone had feared: this young athletic superstar has cancer.

Being fit can’t insure longevity, much less eternity.

    Cancer! Cancer? Yes, it does strike the best, the brightest and the most fit, even in their twenties. Lance Armstrong’s biggest fight is our reminder and wake up call. All any of us gets is one lifetime. None of us knows how short or long that lifetime will be. There are no guarantees. Being fit can’t insure longevity, much less eternity. We are reminded that the issue for all of us can be boiled down to two very important realities:

• living is not measured by the number of years in a life but the amount of life in the years
• living is determined by our commitment to seize each day God gives us to live rather than sleepwalking through weeks and months without recognition of our blessings

    Let me ask you to do two things each day this week:

• Each morning as you awaken, recite what the Psalmist said long ago: “This is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it!”
• and then add: “O Father of grace, help me to seize the life you have placed in each person and each moment of this new day.”

    Finally, as you go to bed each evening, remember to thank God for the blessings you have received this day and ask our Father to pour his blessings on a young champion cyclist fighting for his life in Austin and ask Him to grace Lance Armstrong with healing.

Reflection

    Now that more of this story has been written, why not do two things more: First, thank God for his healing of those who have been spared of cancer, inluding Lance Armstrong.

    Second, make a commitment to support in prayer, and with notes or cards of love, someone you know who is battling for his or her life at the present time.

Title: "Lifting the Veil of Invincibility"
Author: Phil Ware
Publication Date: August 12, 2001

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