I am not supposed to be here. Seriously. Back in 2010 I was diagnosed with stage three rectal cancer. If you don't already know, colo-rectal cancer is the second worst cancer you can get as far as a fatal outcome. That's what they told me after I beat it. I was too ignorant on the whole cancer subject to realize how close I was to death. I just trusted what the doctor said to do and placed my fate in God's hands. We went headfirst into treatment withing a week. Chemo and radiation every day for five weeks. Then came the surgery. Just prior to the surgery I received a check from an insurance policy I had tried twice to cancel but kept messing up the paperwork. Twenty-five thousand dollars! That allowed me to pay my full out of pocket expense and not miss a beat. God is good! The surgery went well, but there was more chemo to come just to give me a 40% chance of the cancer not coming back. Ten months of chemo. Hard stuff. That was nearly 15 years ago. I am alive and kickin'! Then...
Then in 2020 (a week before covid hit the scene) I was at work and had a heart to heart with my boss. Actually it was a BLOWUP! I had never been so mad in all my 60 years, and, Lord willing, I will never go that far again. I drove home the twenty miles from work, walked in and went straight to the bedroom. Abous two minutes passed and I wasn't feeling well. I figured indigestion. My arm and chest hurt too. I walked into the livingroom and my wife said, "Do you need to go to the hospital?" My insurance didn't pick up for two more days. "No. I'll be ok. I'll see a doctor when my insurance takes effect." I sat down at my computer and lay my head down on my arm. My wife made a decision. "Put your shoes on. I'm taking you to the ER." I knew she was serious and, to tell the truth I knew something was very wrong, so off we went. The ER was about 18 miles away. I told her, "I won't make it to the ER. Take me to the fire station." The fire station was only a couple of miles away, so that's was our option. As luck would have it, it appeared no one was around when we arrived. Fortunately two of the reserve police officers were on duty and in the office across from the fire station. They took one look at me and said, "I'm calling the ambulance!" By that time they had reached the firemen at the station and they came running across the parking lot with all sorts of fancy equipment. A quick check of my blood pressure showed 165 over 217. Not the best numbers I could have. About that time the ambulance rolled up and took my BP again. Same range. Before I knew it I was in the back hooked to an IV and downing a nitro pill and a baby asprin. I don't know exactly how fast we were going, but we made the 18 miles in about 5 minutes! By the time we reached the ER I was feeling better (probably the nitro) and made the comment to the EMT that it looked like a wasted trip. He told me I was mistaken. Actually he said Mr. Meeks, You have had or are in the middle of a heart attack. This was NOT a wasted trip.
Long story short They got me secured at the ER and admitted me. The next morning early I was wheeled down to the OR for a heart cath. Turned out I had over 90% blockage in three different sections of my heart. The part they call "the widow maker". I was quickly transferred to Baylor Heart Hospital and within two days I was having all the fun one can while having a triple bypass. I had a great doctor. But I had a GREATER GOD!
Once again, I was not supposed to be hanging out here with you on this keyboard today, but it just wasn't my time yet.
I tell you these stories because I want you to understand that God has a purpose for each and every one of His children. I'm still trying to figure out where I come in. Maybe it's just to let you know God is good ALL the time. I'm 66 years old now. I don't get around like I used to, but I am still going. If you have had similar situations I urge you to consider that God may be using you for His plan somewhere, somehow. I have come close to death twice now. But God has seen me through and brought me out on top! Praise God for the good times. Praise Him in the dark times. Be still and listen for Him to tell you what He has in mind for you. I'm listening.