Quote of the Day: “The possibilities for tomorrow are usually beyond our expectations.” Anonymous
One of my favorite memories of Lynne was on a beautiful fall day in October. We were in high school, she was senior and I was a sophomore. It was one of those incredible fall days when the light seems to come in a little lower in the sky. Leaves had fallen on the streets and they kicked up and blew around the car as we drove and then I imagine fell quietly, slowly to the ground behind us. We were driving in her new reddish-orange Subaru and had Loggins and Messina’s House on Pooh Corner cranked up full blast on her 8-track tape player. I love those moments when life was amazing, so much fun and you just want to freeze time or at least go back to that time so you can relive that same feeling. Lynne loved that car but it came to a sad end when she plowed full blast into a short pole in Olympus High’s parking lot- she was late for class. It literally made a V-shape in the front portion of her car and it was totaled. Luckily, she was fine.
I think one of the greatest gifts Lynne left for me was her positive attitude in relationship to how she handled her experience with cancer. I’m so grateful for her example of stoicism. She was an optimist and never doubted, until the very end, that she would be cured. I really was in the dark about how difficult her situation was when she first had chemo and radiation because she never dwelt on it. She never complained about chemo because she understood that it would up her chances for survival and she was determined to do whatever it took to eradicate cancer. This past year, I heard her say a few times that there must be something she needed to “learn” and that was why she was experiencing all that she was. That made me sad because I didn’t want her to feel that way, that somehow it was a flaw in her behavior that was causing her misfortune. Let’s face it, sometimes, life just gives you crap. I think we need to get away from the idea that we did something wrong to cause the adversity in our lives, when it comes to disease, accidents, natural disasters etc. Sure, somethings we can control our circumstances but cancer or other diseases are part of the deal of living on this earth.
I keep going back to the scripture of making weak things strong and it reminds me of Lynne. She was stronger in ways than you can ever get unless you go through adversity. I’m convinced of it- experience is the best teacher. I have come to understand this scripture as it has been manifest in my own life and I’m comforted that there is a purpose for all that we suffer through if we see it. Our weaknesses can become strengths.
Ether 12:27 from the Book of Mormon
“And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.”
Wasatch Back Trail- September 2011
Having to “learn” some lesson doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve done something wrong. It could mean that there is room to improve. Or that through your experience others could be benefited. Maybe the lesson to learn here was not for Lynne but more for those around her.