You never know.

For me, summer’s end has always been signified by the beginning of school. The last two months in East Tennessee have been just incredibly brutal. It’s either a scorcher, or it’s thunderstorms and downpours. I had that great motorcycle trip to see family and friends. Since then, it’s body-zapping heat. Grass borders on jungle-esque. Our mighty Honda push mower even struggles. The wet clippings clog up the deck, making the mower feel like it’s 300 lbs. I mean, I don’t need to work out!

As a Cardinals fan, we have always longed for the next big thing, the hot-hitting rookie to be called up. Yesterday, that happened with Joshua Baez, or Bye-YES. My youngest and I had a fun outing, so I was not able to witness things live. When we had a pause in our time, I checked and noticed a home run. Cool. First at bat, first hit, first homer. We make it home, and I turn on the game. I’m fast-forwarding to get to live, and I hear Chip say something about “history.” I rewind and catch back up. Second at bat, second hit, second homer. Okay! Fast-forward, next at bat, third hit, third homer. He did get out his next at bat, but I did not realize history was truly made. Three homers in the first three at bats. The first time in MLB history, 1 player in 23,000+. These things just don’t happen that often in 100-year-old games.

You just never know.

Unfortunately, that sentiment applies to more than just baseball. I have more than a handful of friends battling cancer. For several, it’s their second go-around. For others, loved ones have been lost. Very recently, a good friend of mine retired a year or so ago and moved off. Man, we would check in frequently, have great talks, worked great together. Certainly, it can be sad when friends retire, and we don’t get to see them as frequently or even at all. He’s a strong dude, a veteran, healthy, always has taken care of himself. This news has been absolutely stunning.

Last Sunday afternoon, I get a text from what appears to be him, but it’s his wife. She shared that he had a seizure, and they were at the hospital. After tests and a bit of time, he learns he has two brain tumors. They operate on the larger one, removing as much as they could so that they could biopsy it. Results determined he, too, is battling cancer, glioblastoma.

No, we never know. It is brutal watching your friends go through these things, several for the second time. In video games, we play and reach levels, meaning we no longer have to go backwards. We achieve and move forwards. It’s hard because life doesn’t work that way. Grief is very real, and it’s not always about physical loss. It can be any significant real or perceived loss. Lose your keys or cell, you’ll grieve. I lost my hair; I grieved (initially). It can happen with physical abilities, jobs. My goodness, it’s a lot to process, to wrestle with.

So, yeah, weather is on my mind. School starting is on my mind. My friends are on my mind, in my heart, and in my prayers. It may feel like there is nothing we can do in these times, watching our loved ones struggle and battle. I promise you there is something: We can pray.

Our church always says prayer is not our last resort; it’s our first response. This is truth. I ask you to consider praying for not only my friends, but also for all of those battling illness in whatever form. If you feel so inclined, I have a link to my friend’s donate page in the Support section.

Thank you, for reading and for your consideration.

Can you imagine a world united in prayer? How powerful would that be!

You never know.

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