Drinking the Cup
John J. Hagen
June 10, 2012 (Day 24 of Continuation Phase)
I receive a daily meditation email from the Henri Nouwen Society to help inspire and guide my heart. Back in May the reflection was about Drinking the Cup. I saved the email and I find myself looking back on it often, I find myself repeating the phrase “Drinking the Cup”, often.
Nouwen’s writing: After firmly holding the cups of our lives and lifting them up as signs of hope for others, we have to drink them. Drinking our cups means fully appropriating and interiorizing what each of us has acknowledged as our life, with all its unique sorrows and joys.
How do we drink our cups? We drink them as we listen in silence to the truth of our lives, as we speak in trust with friends about ways we want to grow, and as we act in deeds of service. Drinking our cups is following freely and courageously God’s call and staying faithfully on the path that is ours. Thus our life cups become the cups of salvation. When we have emptied them to the bottom, God will fill them with “water” for eternal life.
The other night on what should have been John’s last day of school we were at home creating a “fun” night. John wasn’t able to join in on the usual last day of school festivities but Rich & I wanted to make an attempt at a special night for the kids. So, Bella came up with a great idea, Thai food & board games! It looked and felt like old times. We laughed and the kids had a good time. Later, we took John upstairs for our nightly ritual of administering his chemotherapy pill but he started to feel “icky”. Unfortunately, chemo doesn’t stop for “icky” so; we delivered his nightly dose only to have it abruptly come back up. The party only continued to go down hill. Rich & I had the pleasure of sifting through his vomit trying to find the chemo pill (to see if we needed to re-administer). As I was wiping John face and holding his little head up I clenched my teeth and said over and over and over “Drinking the Cup”! By saying it I acknowledge the path that God ask me walk. I have come to understand what is my unique sorrow, John’s cancer and what is my unique joy, John is ALIVE. My cup holds my truth; my son has Leukemia and my family is forever changed. Acknowledging what is in my cup has caused me great sadness but it has allowed me to grow spiritually. It has allowed me to grow life long friendships. It has allowed me to see that my cup is not the cup full of unique sorrows and joys but so too are your cups.
How does an 11 year-old drink from his cup? John drinks it with Unstoppable Determination! This past Tuesday was an incredibly special day for John. Charlotte Prep gave him the 5th grade Perseverance Award. It exemplified his acknowledgment of his life’s cup and his resolve to faithfully and courageously follow His path. As the room rose to its feet, as John stood on the stage with tears rolling down his cheeks I said to myself, he’s “Drinking the Cup”! John has a unique sorrow, Leukemia, but he also has the belief that by “Drinking the Cup” he will enjoy a beautiful life!
John’s Unstoppable Determination Award: Kleenex Alert!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qv1kdQ1t_e0&feature=youtube_gdata_player
John and I are headed back to Memphis on Wednesday for Round 3 of Phase 2. We are not checking our cups at the gate we are carrying them on!
I hold my cup up in FAITH and HOPE acknowledging not only God’s call for me but for my family and their cups. I hold my cup up to yours recognizing your unique sorrows and joys. Cheers!
Please continue to pray for John’s cure!
Love Kathy
Reader Comments (6)
Kathy,
Your words and your strength amaze me. Congratulations for John's well deserved award. He and Bella are both remarkable children. Good luck this week in Memphis.
Courtney
John we are so proud of you! Witnessing your award acceptance
was AWESOME! You are AWESOME! Keep Fighting!!!
Love the Harrisons
Your whole family has Unstoppable Determination! Your positive attitude and love are so strong. Your writing always fills my heart. We will continue to pray everyday for John.
Love and hugs to you all,
The DuBose Family
We r so looking forward 2 seeing you tomorrow . We are so proud of you. Your award from the Academy is spectacular. You had to be so excited. Papou and I wish we were there. I would have been jumping up and down!!!
Kathy ... You write so beautifully ... I get ' the cup! ' thank you. See u tomorrow . Have a good flight.
Bravo Mrs Hemingway!!
It was great to see you this week
Hi Kathy, Rich, Bella and John....
Sending you our love and prayers. I happened upon this site as I was searching for you after coming across an artist with your same last name today. I suddenly felt I needed to reconnect and find you and catch up. Strange how this works.
After reading some of your entries, you continue to exemplify humble grace. I have no doubt that your journey will be successful. You all have never faced a challenge that you couldn't take on together as a family. I will always remember that about you. Please know we are here for you....xo, Lee, Mike, Jack, Sam and Charlie