Thriving Past Cancer: Marine's Journey

Watching the opening ceremony of the 2018 Olympic s, some truths struck me: Unity and Community is all any of us can contribute to our existence and in so doing make this life a better place. What do I mean by that? I’m so glad that you too had that question. If you haven’t met me yet, I’m pretty intense. One random thought can consume me until I unknot it. So here I am, on a Sunday morning at 5 a.m., unknotting truth. I realized when watching the ceremony that my entire life has been lived in Hollywood, CA doing just this, seeking truth in unity and community. My first vivid experience arose during the first ten years of my life, living on the streets with my fellow brethren, my best friend (we’ll call him T) and I brought together all the children of the community to our apartment building. There was an empty corner that shielded us from the weather. We set up a makeshift classroom there. We sat them down and spent endless hours with them. I taught them and helped them...

I've always had a love/hate relationship with our Creator. I've felt abandoned and lost regardless of the amazing people he's brought into my life- that is until now. He sent me an angel ten days after my admittance into the hospital. Tall, strong, and glowing, she walked in with the largest of smiles. "Sistah," she exclaimed and gave me the warmest of embraces. She smelled of lilac and spices, endless green pastures, and the freshest of air. Tears burst forth the moment she walked in. She held up a crocheted heart and exclaimed, "I sat up all night, praying and crocheting. All the hope and love I have for you is in this heart." She placed it within reach and I grabbed it as though it were my life jacket. I couldn't speak. I couldn't formulate words of gratitude to match her deed. I was a sponge, and she was the water. "The girls and I miss you very much," she said. At "girls" I lost all control. She became my s...