Carry On

From Paul Blackham:

Cycle 3 Postponed

The medical side of our journey this week took an unexpected turn because of an infection that Doris had from her skin punch biopsy. As such, all the expectations of last week will be part of this week’s experience.

In the meanwhile, we continue the journey towards healing in faith.

There are reminders and disappointments associated with the cancellation of our mission to England, such as when I pull out our laptop that we purchased after we received our mission call and I gave it the name or label of Bristol. Secondly as I dig into the messenger bag that we use for the laptop, I find the UK power chord that I bought so we would be able to charge the laptop without using an adapter.

We often find ourselves feeling strong, and not always negative emotions. Emotions are often near the surface. We feel a great deal of love from family, friends, and church members who say that our needs have found an interest in their prayers. It is very meaningful to me when people of faith express their support that includes prayers on our behalf – especially for Doris.

What the skin punch biopsy lacked in terms of intensity, discomfort, and sedation, it more than made up for in terms of complications by way of an infection that placed a pause on treatments for at least a week. We will not know until Thursday when the treatments will be able to continue.

During today’s program of Music and the Spoken Word, I felt great comfort in the choir’s rendition of Come, Come Ye Saints. While this hymn typically is presented with the backdrop of the trek of the LDS pioneers who traveled across the plains to the valley of the Great Salt Lake beginning in 1847, some of the phrases match up with our challenges and journeys.

“Though hard to you, this journey may appear, grace shall be as your day.” Doris and I discussed what this phrase means. My thoughts turn to the sermon on the mount, where Jesus taught, “sufficient is the day unto the evil thereof.” (Matthew 6:34) An interpretation of this teaching is this: Grace is often associated with gifts from God. It is the gift of comfort, strength, and the will to carry on. I suggest a less poetic paraphrase of this sentence from the lyrics: “Though this journey is a trial to you, God will bless you with comfort, strength, and the will to carry on a day at a time.”

Come,Come, Ye Saints |Tabernacle Choir

Carry on we must, because that is the only option. We carry on with the hope and intent that the prescribed medical regimen will continue to be effective. At the very least, we know that from Doris’ blood draw on Thursday that the medication she is receiving is producing positive results. We carry on with the path of hope and trust that God will deliver Doris from this disease and we will have joy in a life that will continue to bring us joy for years to come. We carry on in the assurances that we have received that our course will bring ultimate joy, and even if that joy must wait for the season after this mortal life, we know that we will have joy in the eternities together because our marriage will endure through those eternities because of God’s promises.

I derive inspiration from the fortitude of the LDS pioneers, particularly the handcart pioneers. As I mentioned previously, Martha Robinson Blackham, my third great-grandmother with three of her children were part of the Martin Handcart Company. Her children’s names who accompanied her were Sarah, Samuel and Thomas. There were two members of that rescue party of note. As I mentioned previously John Blackham, Martha’s son was a member of the rescue party. A second member of the rescue team by the name of Cyrus H. Wheelock is also of interest in our family.

Brother Wheelock was among the missionaries who taught the restored gospel of Jesus Christ to the Samuel and Martha Robinson Blackham family in England before Martha and her three aforementioned children departed for the Utah Territory.  As for Brother Wheelock, he rescued Martha and her young children twice – once in England, and a second time in Martin’s Cove during the early winter of 1856.

Cyrus H. Wheelock is also known as the lyricist for the beloved hymn, Ye Elders of Israel, which has in part this verse:

We’ll go to the poor, like our Captain of old,

And visit the weary, the hungry, and cold;

We’ll cheer up their hearts with the news that he bore

And point them to Zion and life evermore.

 

 Ye Elders of Israel | Tabernacle Choir

 

I am confident that Brother Wheelock pointed Martha Robinson and her children to Zion, and that he rejoiced in the opportunity to assist them in the final part of their journey.

 

Again, I take comfort in the reassurance that this season of our lives falls unders the attentive and detailed care of God, Who is aware of the needs and challenges of each day and that all will be well.