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Amen on THAT!

I do have a question though for my Christian friends. I’m pretty much agnostic and always questioning and this is one question I ask myself that I can’t seem to understand. If you truly in heart and soul believe that God promises an eternal wonderful life, why do we then see doctors to stave off death? Why aren’t people killing themselves routinely to enter this wonderful Kingdom?

I’m honestly not at all trying to be snarky, but it just makes no sense to me. Just as this person saying that cancer is a “gift”. Nope. Just don’t understand that at all.

I don’t understand what God created cancer in the first place, much less create people that He knows will die horribly from it, and their loved ones will suffer along with them.

I guess if you don’t promise something, then no one will do what you tell tehm to.

If you truly in heart and soul believe that God promises an eternal wonderful life, why do we then see doctors to stave off death? Why aren’t people killing themselves routinely to enter this wonderful Kingdom?

Its not hard to understand. You have things to do here. You have people who count on you. You've probably seen the stories of the wounded soldiers jumping through every hoop to get back to their unit in combat, their pals are counting on them. When you get ready to draw your last breath you'll be looking at what you've left undone and you may fight to stay and finish it, or you may be at peace with what you've done and you'll make ready to leave.

As for cancer, I know very well that its not a pleasant way to go. If you go in a car wreck you've had no time to say your goodbys or get your affairs in order. The cancer patient does, on the other hand, know pretty certainly that he is on his way out and has that chance to say goodby and settle his affairs.

My opinion is that, if life is eternal, then its already eternal. My primary wish is to leave things in order, leave my family in order, hopefully outlive my wife so I can know I saw her all the way to the end, and then go out myself as gracefully as possible for the sake of the kids who must watch me go. I don't fear death at all, only leaving things in a mess when I go.

If you truly in heart and soul believe that God promises an eternal wonderful life, why do we then see doctors to stave off death? Why aren’t people killing themselves routinely to enter this wonderful Kingdom? I’m honestly not at all trying to be snarky, but it just makes no sense to me. Just as this person saying that cancer is a “gift”. Nope. Just don’t understand that at all.

Now if a woman was pregnant and didn't want to go through with the normal 9-month cycle because she wanted her joy to come more quickly (and she could find someone to surgically deliver her child earlier), it would not then be in God's time, and her baby might have permanent disabilities because of it. Same with you! If you attempt to disrupt God's plan by killing yourself or not at least making an attempt to procure a cure for your ailment, your permanent place in His kingdom could well be “disabled.” In other words, purgatory, or much worse, hell.

And if you have a friend that has a disease, wouldn’t you know their suffering completely if you had the disease or similar suffering yourself? Christ has suffered more than anyone on this earth. One way to get to know Him better and be "complete" friends, is to experience His suffering firsthand. That’s where cancer becomes a gift. The gift is opened when one embraces Christ on His Cross and suffers right along with Him. At that point, an unbreakable bond is formed, ensuring eternal life.

Not everyone receives such a "gift," though, but there is still "hope" for them too.:)

"Holy Communion is the shortest and the safest way to Heaven. There are others: Innocence, for instance, but that is for little children. Penance, but we are afraid of it. Generous endurance of the trials of life, but when they come we weep and ask to be spared. The surest, easiest, shortest way is by the Eucharist" -St. Pius X.