Can Cancer be a Blessing?
Fred Barstein
Founder & CEO of TPSU, TRAU, 401kTV | Creator of 401k Real Talk & Real Chat | Contributing Editor | Providing Plan Sponsors and Plan Fiduciaries the tools to improve their retirement plan through education and training
Strawberry Fields Forever
Recently, a lifelong friend with whom I still communicate was diagnosed with cancer. Actually, the diagnosis was 5 years ago but recently it took a turn for the worse which led to a series of emotions and revelations ending with her wondering whether cancer can be a blessing.
Don’t get me wrong – she became very scared and panicky when the recent diagnosis seemed to indicate that there was a very real chance she wd die in the next 5 years. She had been very healthy and thought she might have had another 20.
After the panic, which did not last long, she went through a number of phases and thoughts. Was this something she deserved – was it karmic? Did she not take care of herself properly? Shd she tell friends and family as well as business colleagues? Who will take care of her dogs? And most importantly, will her partner be ok financially, mentally and emotionally.
Eventually, she came to grips with the fact that even if only 5 years, that wd be fine. After all, no one knows how long they have. Finally, she viewed the diagnosis as a blessing because it put her in touch with reality which is that we all will die at some point. That fact is inconceivable to our egos which cannot fathom the end of its existence. But it is reality along with the fact that our egos or body mind is not real. As “A Couse in Miracles” states in the intro that the entire Course can be summed up with this: "Nothing real can be threatened. Nothing unreal exists. Herein lies the peace of God.”
Along with being put in touch with the reality of death, the diagnosis made her more present. To be here now, moment by moment aware of the reality that her 6 senses experienced but also aware of the sensations in her body that these senses created which is how our the deepest part of our mind works. It does not interact with the outside world – it only reacts to the internal sensations they cause. And like all things, they pass. None are permanent which means none are real.
My friend is in good health and spirits and the panic she initially felt not only passed, it has not returned. Even when it tries, like a thief knocking on her door, she kindly says, “Not now”. Why let it in? She is taking meds and following a treatment even though it might seem like the cure is worse than the disease.
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She has not told many people about her condition, even most of her family. No need to scare anyone if they cannot do anything. She insists she will make an Irish exit not thinking about how people will feel when she passes or what they will think about her. She is preparing for the transition because she knows that the mind we die with is the mind we are born with or, better yet, not return at all.
The song that popped into her head recently was the Beatles “Strawberry Fields Forever” especially these lines:
Let me take you down 'Cause I'm going to strawberry fields Nothing is real And nothing to get hung about Strawberry fields forever
Living is easy with eyes closed Misunderstanding all you see It's getting hard to be someone, but it all works out It doesn't matter much to me
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