Deacon Jim

One Sunday after church I stopped to tell Deacon Jim that his words this day really struck a chord with me. I can no longer remember what they were, I only remember our conversation.
 
I thanked him for his prayers and for being a part of my most recent anointment with the oil for the infirmed. I then told him that my MRI had come back clear. I now know the conversation that followed was no coincidence.

Deacon Jim responded with, “I haven’t had one of those in 10 years. But I had them for 20 years”. I asked him for clarification, “You had MRIs for 20 years”? He confirmed this, and I then asked if he would mind if I asked why he had MRIs for 20 years. He shared his story.

He had a brain tumor, which was surgically removed. The MRIs were to ensure it did not come back. After 20 years they stopped testing Deacon Jim. It has now been 30 years since his tumor was removed.

I believe that Deacon Jim was put in my life as a symbol of hope. This conversation with Deacon Jim happened about two months ago. But only today, as I write down what transpired, am I able to recognize the significance. I don’t have another MRI for several weeks, and my treatments ended in June. I have moments when I get scared because my monitoring is not as frequent as it had been. Deacon Jim’s story gives me hope, and in this hope I find strength. As I said, it is not a coincidence that this happened.
 
“Thank You, God, for giving me Deacon Jim, as a symbol of hope and Your love”.