Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Home for Sale & More Crap About Joy

You all know I never plug anything here on the blog right? I mean... Well... at least I never plug anything that I don't really believe in, support and/or think could be a service to you, a close friend or a cause that's important to me. That all being said, my friends are selling their house.

In my opinion you can't do better in buying a new house than to buy it from an honest carpenter who wanted the best place for his family to live in. It's like buying a mini-van from an honest mechanic who's spouse and kids are going to be riding in it every day. You know they've taken care of it and kept up with everything.

Our friends (not yours and mine but Kristin and my own) Matt and Sarah Lynn are moving. Remember? Sarah Lynn has a new job in Southern California leading worship for a new church. She's already down there. Now Matt and the kids are here waiting for the house to sell. So if you're in the market, or know someone who is, please take note and visit the sales sight here:


I've been in this home and, I've got to tell you, it's a place I'd love to live. The home is beautiful! I couldn't get over the floors, the colors and the warmth. If I had the money, and didn't even know Matt and Sarah Lynn, I would buy it in a heart-beat. Really! Make sure you go to the sight and look at the pictures. Don't just take my word for it. It's lovely and worth every penny!



Does life astound you? It should. Seriously. If you're not constantly being surprised and astonished (and other various descriptive words) by life, you're missing out on something.


Day by day our lives are filled with miracles. The phone call for which we had waited. That ten dollars we needed and had no idea where it was. Our child's fever finally breaking. The person we love not drinking that one beer that starts the successions each night. Miracles. I don't believe in luck. In fact, I believe that everything happens for a reason. You didn't know that? Have we met?

The longer I live with cancer the more I find reasons I have it. Do I believe that God gave me cancer? No. I don't think so. To be honest, I don't know. I guess the  more important question for me is that, if I believe in a God that is all powerful and has control over time, space, destiny and where a fly lands on a piece of poo... If He did "give" me cancer... Does that change who He is? Does that change the respect due to him?


Cancer has given me so many opportunities I never should have had. So many moments with my wife that really could never have happened without the cancer. The trip to New York, backstage at Wicked, our friendship that developed with a cast member there which lead to us following her down to California when she was cast in a sit-com and meeting the cast of the sit-com. Is there any way that can all be a chain of coincidences? Not in my opinion.

Kristin has lived with depression, anxiety and a certain level of paranoia all her life. If we hadn't gotten into this would she have discovered that it was "ok" to have those conditions? That she wasn't insane, she just needed some medication that a lot of people use and a few other considerations? If she hadn't helped me go through the process of filing for disability, would she have ever been able to acknowledge her own? Now, as we expect her to get approved for disability, I can leave here, when the time comes, knowing she has more help with the life ahead of her and can learn to accept these problems she thought were insurmountable as part of who she is and part of the make up God designed inside her. She's learning that it's ok to be who she is. That's a miracle. I believe it wouldn't have happened without the cancer and everything else that disease has brought us through. Maybe it would have... eventually. 


This cancer has changed me. In many ways for the better. God prepared me for it too. He gave me parents who raised me to "choose joy" in situations. I can count the times I've been blessed to hear my father preach on both hands and one of those happened to have been entirely on that subject. For some reason, of all the sermons and "lessons" I've learned and heard in my life, that one stuck in my head and, at times, I know it word for word. I've been able to come to grips with who I am and speak openly about things God has put on my heart knowing that I may not have the same opportunity tomorrow.

I guess what I'm saying, other than everything happens for a reason and you can, if you recognize the "testicular fortitude" inside you, choose to find joy in it, is... Wow... I'm thankful for the cancer. I'm thankful that God allowed this to happen. It's a part of who I am and it's helped a lot of people to watch me go through all this. So, if God gave me cancer, than I thank God for the cancer. I am thankful to Jesus for allowing me this opportunity to learn so much about joy, sorrow, life and, in the end, so much about my self. 

Thanks for "listening" and putting up with the multitude of run-on sentences tonight. I write like I talk. I'm sure somewhere a Writing 101 or AP English teacher dies a little inside every time I post.
"Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors." James 1:2-3 The Message




3 comments:

Matt's Musings said...

Thanks friend...you brought tears to my eyes. Also, James 1 is a fave for me. It has become a life verse for me, sometimes a subtle whispering reminder, other time a wall I am beating my head against. In all things it has been a blessing and a reminder that we can "choose joy," and that when we do, we are the better for it. Love you friend.

Ivy said...

I really needed to read this tonight, especially the verse. Thank you, Aaron, for just being you and sharing your journey. I truly thank God that I stumbled upon your blog last year. You give and give and give so much of yourself. Christ's light really shines through you.

Blessings Aaron!

Unknown said...

Aaron, thanks for sharing your thoughs your relationship with christ is inspiring i feel honored to be your brother in christ. trust in the lord trust in the lord trust in the lord. love ya ben angerstein