THE TRIUMPH OF THE CROSS

I STAND
I MAKE THE SIGN OF THE CROSS
I GENUFLECT
I REFLECT
I PRAY
I SING

REPEATEDLY
SO MANY TIMES OVER
WITH VOICES OF MEN WOMEN AND CHILDREN
OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS

ONE STEP AT A TIME
FROM CONDEMNATION TO RESURRECTION

ONE STEP AT A TIME
WITH TEARS ON EYES
I HOLD ON TO THE CROSS
I FIX MY EYES ON HIM
MY JESUS
I KNOW THAT THE CROSS WILL TRIUMPH

OVER ALL THE MESTINON SIDE EFFECTS
OVER ALL THE PREDNISONE STEROID THREATS
OVER ALL THE RADIATION UNCERTAINTY

I CLAIM THE CROSS WILL TRIUMPH
EVEN AS THE NEUROLOGIST SURGEON RADIATION ONCOLOGIST AND PATHOLOGIST SHARE THEIR PROPOSALS FOR DIAGNOSTICS AND PROCEDURES

I READ REPEATEDLY THE PATHOLOGIST REPORT , BIT BY BIT
ON SIZE AND WEIGHT OF THE INVASIVE TUMOR
I READ AND TRY TO UNDERSTAND
FIRMLY SAYING NO TO ANY QUESTION OF WHY?
I READ AND TRY TO UNDERSTAND
WHAT APPEARS TO BENIGN BUT THREATENS TO BE LESS BENIGN
I READ AND TRY TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE TUMOR HAD ATTACHED ITSELF TO THE PLEURA AND PERICARDIUM AND AVERY VITAL CARDIAC VEIN

AND THEN WITH TIRED SPIRIT, I SURRENDER
I DO NOT NEED TO UNDERSTAND MORE TODAY
I SURRENDER
I HOLD ON TO THE TRIUMPH OF THE CROSS

AND SO I REST ..MY TIRED AND WEARY BODY...

I CANNOT TAKE ANOTHER STEP RIGHT NOW

TOMORROW WILL BE ANOTHER DAY
AND YES TOMORROW ONCE MORE

IT WILL BE
ONE STEP AT A TIME

I CLAIM THE TRIUMPH OF THE CROSS.


ALAS THIS HAS BEEN MY SIMPLE JOURNEY OF FAITH
PROCLAIMING GOD'S CONSTANT LOVE