Tony Snow on Cancer’s Unexpected Blessings

Posted by Kendall Harmon

Blessings arrive in unexpected packages—in my case, cancer.

Those of us with potentially fatal diseases—and there are millions in America today—find ourselves in the odd position of coping with our mortality while trying to fathom God's will. Although it would be the height of presumption to declare with confidence What It All Means, Scripture provides powerful hints and consolations.

The first is that we shouldn't spend too much time trying to answer the why questions: Why me? Why must people suffer? Why can't someone else get sick? We can't answer such things, and the questions themselves often are designed more to express our anguish than to solicit an answer.

I don't know why I have cancer, and I don't much care. It is what it is—a plain and indisputable fact. Yet even while staring into a mirror darkly, great and stunning truths begin to take shape. Our maladies define a central feature of our existence: We are fallen. We are imperfect. Our bodies give out.

But despite this—because of it—God offers the possibility of salvation and grace. We don't know how the narrative of our lives will end, but we get to choose how to use the interval between now and the moment we meet our Creator face-to-face.

Read it all.

Filed under: * Culture-Watch • Health & Medicine • * Theology • Pastoral Theology

5 Comments
Posted September 3, 2007 at 7:40 am [Printer Friendly] [Print w/ comments]



1. MikeS wrote:

Phenomenal writing!  What a great testimony!

September 3, 9:21 am | [comment link]
2. Mathematicus wrote:

Great writing from a good man. His first sentence is a reflection of 1 Thessalonians 5: 18, “In everything give thanks;”

The story of his best friend took me back to a little over a year ago when I was ministering to my best friend and his family as he was dying of pancreatic cancer and tears came again. 

I cannot but expect that Tony will stand firm.  He is a great communicator of Christ’s message.  We should all pray that he lives long in order to continue that work.

September 3, 10:55 am | [comment link]
3. wvparson wrote:

Indeed I can attest to and have tried to live into Tony’s experience during this last year. It was at the end of September, 2006 that I was diagnosed with cancer. Although a bone marrow biopsy last month showed no present sign of the disease I know it will return and that is a daily reality with which one lives. A visit to the oncologist -on Wednesday - brings back anxieties and yet gives opportunity for grace. It is a day by day process as is the process of failing, forgiveness and redemption. God’s gifts do come in odd packages.

September 3, 5:54 pm | [comment link]
4. Harvey wrote:

My wife was diagosed with cancer a few years ago and with an operation and treatment susequently she went into remission.  Now about two years later the cancer has returned and unfortunately it is inoperable.  We may not have many months together in this life but being two of God’s redeemed we will be meeting again when we both leave this sphere.  I help her in any way I can and we take each day as it comes.  We have been married many years, we sleep in the same bed, and frequently we still fall asleep holding hands.  Consider this my testimony to God’s love for us.

September 3, 7:01 pm | [comment link]
5. Bob from Boone wrote:

I have the highest admiration and respect for Tony Snow. He performed his difficult job as the White House spokesman with grace and good humor, earning not only the respect of the press corp but of so many of us who listened to him. He has dealt with cancer with a courage that is an inspiration for us all. May God continue to bless and guide him.

September 4, 7:17 am | [comment link]
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