Cancer, Just Another Challenge

Reprinted with permission from THE SHINING LIGHT – July/August, 1988 By Charles M. King Running an average of twenty – five miles per week, vigorous racquetball games – three times per week: working on weight machines – three times per week, eating the right foods, most of the time; getting things “off my chest” quickly and directly. These were all normal elements of my life-style for a number of years. From the standpoint of preservation, it might appear that an excellent program was in effect in my life. Never, however, did I expect to have a sure fire case against disease. I only expected these activities to provide quality in my life on a daily basis, nothing more. It’s good that I didn’t have such an expectation because one day in March of 1988, I received word that my body had been invaded by cancer which had originated in the right kidney and was attacking my body, producing blood clots as it spread through the right Renal Vein, into the Vena Cava and on into the left Renal Vein. As one of the physicians explained the disease, it became apparent that it was a painful chore for him to break this news to my wife and me. He was so shaken that he could barely explain the condition. From observing him, I knew the prognosis could only be dismal. Nonetheless, I sensed myself going out to him with a strong urge to comfort him. Permit me to digress for a moment to explain something. Since the early days of my Spiritual walk, I concluded that the most important and foremost aspect of one’s Spiritual experience is to develop and maintain a close relationship with God, an effort to which there is no end. Although there are times of discouragement and despairing, I perceived that I must continue the effort because nothing else is as important. At this moment I sensed the benefits of this previous effort. Although there had been many times in the past when I had benefited from a strong presence of God, it had never been as comforting and as obvious as this. I wanted to reach out and comfort the physician who was having such a difficult time of it. In fact I did help him along as the power of God was there accepting the prognosis in His own strength. All previous effort to grow close to God culminated in that moment. There was no sense of fear or panic, just comfort and power. I sat pensively, taking it all in and mulling it over as the physician spoke. On subsequent days when moments of sadness and regret occurred, there was the strength to examine circumstances and put them all in perspective. A week later I was transferred to another hospital where the previous diagnosis was confirmed and surgery was recommended. Following the surgery I was informed that, because of the dangers involved, the surgeon did not alter anything in my body. The cancer was attacking my blood vessels rather aggressively but my body was restructuring itself to work around the obstacles caused by the cancer. The final prognosis was terminal, death expected to occur in six months to one year. The physicians further informed me that I had a three percent chance of survival but with my “positive attitude,” I might expect slightly better odds. They said it was up to me because there was no medication or treatment, experimental or otherwise, that would be effective in counteracting this type of cancer. After spending several weeks in a hospital listening to the experts speculate about whether or not I would live or die, I came to certain conclusions about death, the mental/spiritual aspects of healing and prevention of and coping with disease. Perhaps you, the reader, whether you’ve experienced a dread disease or not, might find it beneficial to ponder these factors with me. DEATH – For several years I had heard it said that “death is a part of life” and “it’s a turning point in the life of a person.” To most of us who are concentrating on living, these statements are distant and therefore do not garner much of our attention. For many, death is that dread event which we refuse to consider and which is unsettling to reflect upon. Therefore we shove it “out of our minds” for as long as we can. Although I had given consideration to it previously, death took on a new and personal meaning. It now related directly to me, and, if the physicians were correct, it would come to me soon. Since it was mine to face, I began processing it in my mind and acknowledging its inevitability. I faced death in all aspects as well as its meaning for me and my family. I concluded that it is something that we all must face and if my time has really come, I would take it. Because of it I could now journey on to see what God has next in store for me. I sensed mixed emotions. First, I was excited about exploring new frontiers, and, secondly I felt sad about leaving those behind whom I love so much – my family and friends. I concluded that we’d all get over the sadness and move on to the next phase of our being. Following this full acknowledgment of death, I focused on the doctor’s estimate of the remaining time. I concluded that if it was indeed accurate, six months is a long time to promise anyone – healthy or ill. Certainly such a period could not be guaranteed, regardless of the condition of health. Even though the physicians estimated six months to a year for me because of my condition, many healthy people would probably die before I would. Life is funny that way. Predicting life is a very inexact science, I concluded, and so I began to discount the amount of time assigned to me. Since long life has not been guaranteed, I decided I would cram each day with such meaning that no matter what day death comes I’d have to interrupt life to receive it. Under no circumstances would I allow the prognosis to become a self – fulfilling prophecy. My resulting attitude about death is: If it happens in six month or six years I would live fully each day – loving, creating, helping others, and being productive in other ways. Having a strong and growing relationship with God, I now believe man has more of a say about what happens to him than I once believed. He must, however, allow himself to reflect on the issues and put them in proper perspective. MENTAL/SPIRITUAL ASPECTS OF HEALING – As I interacted with the physicians and noted their speculations about the physiological condition of my body, the thought came to me that they were overlooking the most significant aspects of healing – the Spirit working in harmony with the Mind. The physicians’ prognosis was based almost solely on science and my physiological makeup. Granted, their prognosis would probably be 99% correct if there was no spirit or mind involved. When informed that there was no treatment or medication recommended for my type of cancer, I rejoiced because my future was now left to the Spirit and mind. Using my mind, I would now have to harmonize with the Spirit to bring about healing in my body. Although I recognized this to be a formidable challenge, I accepted it; even though with awe. It became clear that I must take charge of the healing process. Medical personnel, though very important, could not be in charge because they could not control my mind or work with my Spirit. They simply did not know my spiritual, emotional or mental needs. Based on that aspect of my being with which they were working they hadn’t given me much of a chance. Certainly I could not leave my condition in their hands. Healing takes place in the body and Spirit brings it about. I decided that’s where my focus should be. In surveying the mental aspects of this healing process, I immediately recognized the need for mental toughness – taking charge of my mind with such strength that my emotions, fears, and actions were under my mind’s control. There simply was no time for letting it wander on major or minor issues, or drifting into unproductive, emotional activity. In short, I needed to keep it as open as possible to Spirit’s leading. There was no time for self-pity or of needless questioning of God as to “Why?” or expressing anger or remorse. It was time to pull it all together and focus on living! Following the death of his sons and his wife through tragic deaths, Martin Luther King, Sr., said “All of my hatred will not bring my family back.” Rose Kennedy, the mother of John F. Kennedy, was said to have called her family together and remarked: “I don’t know why all these tragedies are in our lives but there’ll be no self-pity practiced in this household.” These are examples of mental toughness; getting on with life and spending as little time as possible on issues that don’t bear relevant fruit. When the announcement of death comes, there is little time for self-pity, anger or worry. For quite some time it had been clear to me that God is not sitting around deciding who to inflict with the next dread disease. Because of my view on this, I didn’t need to question God about why he’d done this. In my view, God is not a God of disease but a God of wellness, which brings us to the third consideration, prevention. PREVENTION – We are designed as mental, physical and emotional entities which are inseparably linked to our Spirit. We are designed to function in this universe, being productive and spreading love along the way. In order to do this, we have been given certain design characteristics which, if managed as instructed, we can live healthily. Although God designed us to be healthy, there are times when we will be attached by disease. It seems no matter how cautious we are, we will sometimes be vulnerable to attack. All of my physical exercise and other precautions did not prevent the onset of cancer. Cancer was about to penetrate my walls of protection and now I must address it and control it. I must call on my mental and spiritual resources to counteract it and work for healing. It’s a circumstance left to Spirit and me. I have seen those who’s minds were so fixed on living in such a way as to prevent diseases and other undesirable occurrences that when diseases do occur there is nothing left with which to fight. The result is often self-pity and remorse. Yes, build a program for the prevention of illness and diseases but be certain to have something left to counteract them if they do occur. In sports, athletes are trained to play for perfection but they are also trained to expect the unexpected with the hope that if it comes they will be mentally prepared to counteract it with minimum loss of time so that they can continue on to win. We must act similarly: focus on preventing disease and misfortune but be prepared to fight back and win if you are unexpectedly invaded. Through the experience of cancer and the subsequent reflections, I have come to realize that cancer is not tantamount to death. The mere fact that there is no certain medical cure is no reason to retreat into defeat and wait death’s overtaking. We have a healing system in our bodies that is activated and energized by Spirit It is clear to me that I should respect it and expect it to work. Cancer, or any other dread disease, should be viewed as another problem: an accident, to be countered by our God-given problem-solving, healing mechanisms. Although death may be a result, I should do everything possible through these mediums to live. It is now clear that cancer can be a significant turning point in a person’s life, provided he is not a doomsayer with a fixation on dying. If we as God’s children are to win and overcome life’s adversities, we must do more than recite platitudes and quote comforting scriptures and poems. We must develop plans based on our knowledge and awareness of what God has given us with which to fight. We must commit ourselves to make a difference in the outcome, no matter the gravity of the condition, the related pain or the seeming odds. I know that God is there to work it out with us. Living is a process whereby we can make far more decisions about its quality than we realize. In our imperfections we make numerous mental and emotional blunders which culminate in unwanted physiological conditions. Whether these conditions are cancer or the common cold, we can be instrumental in calling forth divine intervention that activates our physical organs to counteract such an attack. My decision to take charge of my own circumstances and to form a team with my physicians was well thought out and I considered the only bases for positive results were hope and faith. Each member of my team was informed that he/she either exercise faith and hope or they couldn’t be on the team. I acknowledged I needed their expertise but it had to be on these terms. They agreed and we are working well together. No mortals can assure us how long we will live. We must accept what has always been true: no certain number of days is guaranteed to us. In light of this, it seems we should live fully each day, praising God for the new day provided us and for the excellent mechanisms we have to bring quality to that day. Of this one thing I am sure: faith in God and positive effort make a difference in healing as well as in the quality of one’s life – I’m staking my life on it! THIS YEAR I CELEBRATED MY 21ST YEAR AFTER CANCER

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INSPIRING AMERICANS

Helping Americans Reach Beyond the Ordinary to be Extraordinary

inspiringamericans

The American Dream, An Ever Present Reality

By Charles M. King

In this period of economic  downturns and uncertainty, we hear much about the American Dream. Some say it is fading, others say it has become a nightmare while others proclaim it dead. Still some are now declaring it available only to a selected few “fat cats”. These numerous reactions and proclamations set my mind to wondering if I ever understood the meaning of the dream. In times like the ones we are facing, for the life of me, I thought there was no greater time to dream than the present.

Not long ago I read an article written by a syndicated columnist about what he perceived as a mar to the dream.  He was writing about a situation in a midwestern city which, to him, doomed the dream as he knew it. This writer indicated that the town in question was divided by a railroad track. On the south side were the “have nots” and on the north side were the “haves”. As he perceived it, the gap was widening between the two groups.

This writer proceeded to lament over the fact that the people on the north side could afford to finance the dreams of their children, while on the south side the people were doomed to falling further and further behind because of the economic conditions among the inhabitants.

It is noteworthy that some parents can afford to provide assistance to their children in meaningful ways, but when did the American dream become something to be purchased. Since when did it become available only to those who “could afford it”? 

In my view, if a count were taken, it would reveal that as many or more high achievers have emerged from underprivileged, or even disfunctional families as from affluent families. Material family status is not the means by which we determine the availability of the American dream. To proclaim such would be a discredit to all of the dreamers and achievers of humble beginnings.

During these difficult times it is important to bring the real approach to the dream into focus. Tragically, today many are proclaiming that the dream is dead because they have no job, or that the government is not doing enough to support them, or that the “fat cats” are depriving them of opportunities they might otherwise have.

In my study of history I find a far different meaning of the American dream than that which is being widely defined today. The American dream has been and, I predict will always be based on ideas, creative effort, daring, determination and and resolve. This is the stuff  from which dreams emerge to become reality. Some would add breaks to this list. I agree that breaks are important as one progresses, but breaks can’t be planned. They may be there but one must rely on his/her own tenacity and initiative. Breaks make the journey more enjoyable as they give the assurance that there is a sure and certain Spirit on our side.

During these current days the season for dreamers proliferate. One only needs to look around and see the numerous possibilities for dreaming which will set this nation on course. The President mentions only a few possibilities as he addresses the many dilemmas facing this nation. Only a few are being exposed but there is room for many more. That which we are calling the American dream is the result of the right to live comfortably and independently as one makes his/her own creative contribution to the American, or global system of life.

The dream comes about as a result of a person seeing a need and  searching his/her own creative mind to find an answer. Next comes commitment, preparation and effort to fulfill the dream. As a result of this person’s work and persistence, there is usually a payoff that is rewarding and fulfilling. The payoff, therefore, consists of contribution and reward.

American history is a history of a people who have put their ultimate faith in their own creative energies-and justifiably so. In his book, The Enterprising American, speaking of developments in America, John Chamberlain writes that, “For such a people a new frontier, the real frontier will always be open.”

Tracing this history back in time, some of the pioneers on the American frontier have given us interesting insights to consider. Dewitt Wallace said the idea for Readers Digest came to him “from the blue”. William Pauley said he had a “gut feeling that radio was on the threshhold of a great awakening”, that “marvelous things are about to happen”, thus CBS was born. George Washington Carver, a former slave remarked that he saw God in a peanut. Thus he looked inside and found more than two thousand derivatives from the peanut. In addition, his studies of agriculture enabled him to save Southern Agriculture from ultimate ruin.

Because of the innovation and pioneering of these and many other frontiersmen, new frontiers proliferate and spread opportunities across time in institutions that have emerged from their efforts. Robert Noyce, through the invention of the silicon chip, founded two companies, Fairchild Semiconductor and Intel. Says Royce, “only economically feasable products will become reality-where costs can be pushed down rapidly, great new vistas arise.”

Ray Kroc, of McDonald’s fame, personified mediocrity most of his life. A backroom piano player and low performance in ribbon sales were his best effort in early life; stymied by algebra, Kroc dropped out of school. From then until he met the McDonald brothers, he sought the American dream unsuccessfully. Because of his ingenuity he took the idea for making hamburgers and spread it across the world. Through the pioneering effort of Kroc, tens of thousands of others with meager beginnings have had their  dreams fulfilled. The same can be said for numerous other institutions. Thus frontier opportunities exists in thousands of institutions across America and each time one is seized another dream becomes a reality.

 Throughout the history of America this network of opportunity has developed. It cuts across class lines and there is no real barrier to entering it. As John Chamberlain further states, “It is creative busyness within the rules of the marketplace, which harness the hunger of man and his work together. There can be no fulfillment of the true dream without effort and sacrifice and making a way where there seems to be no way.” Such a view is most appropriate for these times.

A study of life in America and its development reveals certain common threads: daring, inventive and persistent people have survived and achieved, thus making a way for the masses to survive. We have survived through depressions, wars, slavery,  famine and numerous other obstacles. Yet today wa ask where has the dream gone? The dream is hiding behind a need, a new concept or an innovation.

The American dream will always be just beginning. It continually cries out to you and me: be innovative, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened, ask and it will be given to you.

No, my friend, there is nothing wrong with the dream. The real problem is that too many potential dreamers are in a coma of dependency and shortsightedness. There are many, many frontiers,  but too few frontiersmen. For everyone who dares dream, it is his/her privilege. Dream for yourself, for your organization, for your family, but dream and dream and create and create. America needs us all to dream.

“They are the architects of greatness, their vision lies within their souls, they peer beyond the veils and mists of doubt and pierce the walls of unborn Time. The belted wheel, the trail of steel, the churning screw, are shuttles in the loom on which they weave their magic tapestries. Makers of Empire, they have fought for bigger things than crowns and higher seats than thrones. Your homes are set upon the land a dreamer found. The pictures on its walls are visions from a dreamer’s soul. They are the chose few — the blazers of the way. Walls crumble and Empires fall, the tidal wave sweeps from the sea and tears a fortress from its rocks. The rotting nations drop off from Time’s bough, and only things the dreamer’s make live on.” Herbert kaufman

Aging in America, A Needless Waste of Human Capital

 

By Charles .M.King

For the last sixty-nine years we have held and nurtured a belief here in America that has a strangle hold on our way of life. It is a strangle hold that is defeating and debilitating. I predict we cannot survive with it much longer. The difficulty in changing it is the same as with any other cultural change. Old habits and traditions die hard. America cannot afford to maintain it because it is destructive to a rapidly growing segment of our population.

I am referring to the way we view aging. We virtually push those people aside who reach age sixty and beyond. Actually our culture is predicated on the fact that they will not have much to offer beyond that age, so they are systematically phased out of the mainstream and are subsequently viewed as a liability rather than the asset they have the potential of being.

Most of the nation’s concern is not for their potential but rather how to offer services that will provide them a meager existence in their “declining years.” The greatest tragedy in all of this is that we prepare our citizens for their impending uselessness in old age from grade school onward. It is no wonder that most are worn out and expect little from themselves after sixty five or so. We become what we think about. Most Americans think about aging with trepidation.

What is the origin of this tragic way of life? Why do we have a mindset that causes such a waste of human capital? It began in 1935 following the Social Security Board’s recommendations for a security package to offer a level of security to certain people as they grew older. President Franklin D. Roosevelt introduced the “Old Age Pension Bill”, as it was originally named.

It is unfortunate that the phrase old age pension was attached to the Social Security Act of 1935. It has had a negative effect on our culture ever since. Many think the bill was passed because older persons would not be useful at age sixty-five. This was not the case. The real reason for the Social Security Act was given by President Roosevelt when he introduced the bill. He said: “Security was attained in the earlier days through the interdependence of members of families upon each other and of the families within a small community upon each other. The complexities of great communities and of organized industry make less real these simple means of security. Therefore, we are compelled to employ the active interest of the Nation as a whole through government in order to encourage a greater security for each individual who comprise it . . . This seeking for a greater measure of welfare and happiness does not indicate a change in values. It is rather a return to values lost in the course of our economic development and expansion.”

 When the Act was conceived it was referred to as an economic security plan to ultimately cover many different needs. It was conceived out of the need to meet the many changes that were taking place in American life at the time. By no means was it based on aging alone. Several parts of the Act deal with groups of people with troubles that were recognized for many years preceding its passage. Its provisions were for citizens considered too young to work, those who might be too old to work, and those who were physically handicapped. The Act also provides for grants-in-aid to help states broaden and extend regular allowances for certain mothers who needed assistance: the needy blind and the needy aged, for child welfare and the physically handicapped who can be assisted in working again. Unfortunately we have emphasized the aging part of the bill as a governmental decree that once citizens reach age sixty five, they would no longer be a productive member of society.

 It should be noted that in the year 1935 life expectancy for men was 59 years and 62.5 years for women. Compared to life expectancy, especially for men, age 65 was six years beyond their expected life span. Because our many advances in medical science and other technologies we are now able to provide for a significantly high quality of life with abilities far beyond what was possible in 1935. In fact, because of the many advances and discoveries today, life expectancy is rapidly approaching age 80 with the quality being far above what it was in 1935. Considering these factors we should clearly see that whatever the concept of aging was at that time should have no bearing on our thinking today. We should, and indeed we must, advance to the emerging realities and possibilities for life as it exists today.

 There are a number of reasons for changing our attitudes toward aging. To make my point regarding wasted human capital I will mention a few.

First, there are millions of elderly Americans who have tremendous experience, skills and abilities and are competent to use them in meaningful ways to the benefit of an employer. They see no need to sacrifice the lifestyles to which they have become accustomed because of the aging myth. Employers, and, potential clients for the self-employed, should be aware that to refuse to hire or retain these citizens are practicing age discrimination.

 The special lists of employers who are willing to provide low level and menial jobs for the elderly are appreciated but there are many elderly who are able to function normally in significant positions. These persons can bring much value to the workplace and I predict they won’t give up. Roger Herman, the international futurist and employee retention expert, now deceased, stated that there is a crisis developing in the workplace. He said there won’t be sufficient personnel to fill critical positions in organizations. What better reason to change our thinking about aging? There are more than enough people sixty and above to fill key positions.

Second, as more and more citizens discover their purpose in life and set out to function within it, they will not be tired of performing it at a certain age. It must be remembered that fulfilling a purpose makes a person resolute. Because they are driven, not much can stop them. Discriminating employers should beware.

A third reason for change is a strong and prevailing one. Starting in 2008, nearly eighty million baby-boomers will join the ranks of the sixty plus group. No group in American history has enjoyed a more prosperous lifestyle than baby-boomers. I predict they will not give it up without a fight. As we experience additional advances in medical science the time will soon be here when the sixty plus group will almost equal the adult population under sixty.  They will be able, confident, healthy and very capable of bringing as much to an employer as any other person, regardless of age. Such valuable human capital cannot and must not be wasted. Retirement as the baby-boomers’ parent knew it, is almost non-existent. So that leaves them unprepared to retire in the old fashioned way.

 Finally, America cannot afford the many developing warehouses called nursing homes (Assisted Living Facilities) where people go to live unproductively as they compare aches and pains all day every day. I don’t believe it was ever intended that life would stop in such an abrupt and wasteful manner. A great part of a healthy life is meaningfulness and purposefulness. Take these away and you have unfulfilled citizens who feel useless and so they rapidly decay. Such waste!

 A philosopher once remarked, “People grow old and die because they see other people growing old and dying.” I would add to that statement that they grow old and useless because our culture teaches it and often enforces it. The cultural landscape has changed markedly and in order to avoid this needless waste we must change with it.

 How can we change this deplorable condition? I offer a few measures that can be taken:

The number 65 was arbitrarily chosen. It might just as well have been ninety. Then we would be programming ourselves to be old at ninety. Each of us must recognize that we get what we expect; therefore we must dispel the myth and stop expecting to be old and unproductive at any age. The way we view life is our individual responsibility.

• Experience as a consultant has taught me that employers are loathe to bring about significant change without recognizing a need. Most change comes about out of pressure and a sense of urgency. Employers who discriminate must feel the pressure from the elderly in the form of boycotts and other peaceful means to get their attention.
• Our leaders in congress should also be made to feel the need to lead the way in removing conditions that minimize the importance of the elderly in this country. We should let them know our dissatisfaction and insist that the concerns of the elderly should be a much higher agenda item in the congress. Write to them and express your dissatisfaction with the violation of the civil rights of the elderly, especially in the area of employment.
• There are more than 35,000,000 persons over fifty who are members of AARP. The members of this group should express to AARP the need to become more aggressive in expressing its concerns about employment and other issues relating to aging. We must insist that AARP become more vocal and visible in their advocacy. In addition, AARP must become more circumspect about its own hiring practices.

 In America we have held several incorrect beliefs about certain members of our population. For a long time we harbored the belief that women should stay at home and function in domestic roles. Today we know better, in that women have proven themselves to be competent leaders in all walks of life. It had to become very necessary for women to make it on their own before we changed our concept of their capabilities.

 

For hundreds of years our culture harbored the belief that African-Americans were somehow inferior and deserving of the low level status of servitude. The concept was so strong and so fiercely enforced that many African-Americans believed it themselves. Today, African -Americans are stalwart leaders in every facet of our society, including the presidency.

Native Americans were considered to be so substandard that they were relegated to reservations. Their plight is not yet over but they are progressing.

 After having been so wrong in so many instances, to the detriment of these and other individuals, it is time we wake up and celebrate all segments of our population, freeing them from the myths of this culture to live their potential. I submit that America is as off base about aging as it has been about the aforementioned groups. It won’t be long until necessity will force a new concept of aging. As a result, we will preserve much capital.

 Come on America, let’s abandon the many myths that we live by and accept the fact that the spirit in us is omnipotent and readily available and capable of making us what we will to be. Thereby we can all have value and significance as long as we live. There is no better time than now to get started. 

We would do well to follow the words of Deepak Chopra in his book Ageless  Body, Timeless Mind:

“I would like you to join me in a journey of discovery. We will explore a place where the rules of every day existence do not apply. These rules state that to grow old, become frail, and die is the ultimate destiny of all. And so it has been for century after century. However, I want you to suspend your assumptions about what we call reality so that we can become pioneers in a land where youth vigor, renewal, creativity, joy, fulfillment, and timelessness are the common experience of everyday life, where old age, senility and infirmity, and death do not exist and are not even entertained as a possibility.

“If there is such a place, what is preventing us from going there? It is not some dark continental landmass or dangerous unchartered sea. It is our conditioning, our current collective world view that we were taught by our parents, teachers, and society. This way of seeing things–the old paradigm–has aptly been called ‘the hypnosis of social conditioning,’ an induced fiction in which we have collectively agreed to participate.”