Because of the glioblastoma and the soon-to-come (now realized) death of my friend, Dave, I decided to reread a book I read about 5 years ago. It is entitled I’ve Seen the End of You by Dr. Lee Warren. Dr. Warren is a neurosurgeon who specializes in glioblastomas, as well as other “nerve” surgeries. I’m not really sure why I read it originally. But I do know why I read it this time. Knowing that Dave was going to die (unless God intervened) due to the glioblastoma that ravaged his brilliant mind, I wanted to know the ins and outs of what to expect. Little did I know his death would be so soon. 

IMHO Dr. Warren’s book is a must read. Every pastor, every doctor, every questioning believer/non-believer ought to read the book. His book is based on the idea that he knows how glioblastomas end: death (hence the book title). From quick to some which are more prolonged, death comes. But this is more than a book on glioblastomas. It is a book of questions. And answers. Questions about God, justice, fairness, healing, the results of his time in Iraq, and others. He doesn’t sugar coat anything. Dr. Warren is real and raw in his assessment of God and life. He wrote a book on his time in Iraq as a surgeon and the PTSD which he brought home with him called No Place to Hide (another excellent book). In this book, while seeking answers to questions and coming close to losing his faith, Dr. Warren faced a monumental crisis: the death of his son. 

But this post is not about his book. It is about a quote in it: 

Faith is a footbridge that you don’t know will hold you up over the chasm until you’re forced to walk out onto it. (Nicholas Wolterstorrff, Lament for a Son-Quoted on p. 231)

My mind immediately went to the scene in Indiana Jones & the Last Crusade when he is following the clues to find the Holy Grail. After conquering two of them, the third has him having to take a “step of faith” into a great chasm. When he does, he steps out onto a bridge, a walkway, that is seen after he steps out (thanks to the magic of movie making). 

Faith is stepping out into the unseen. That is what separates faith from sight. We do a lot here on earth by faith, but there will come a day when our faith will become sight. Permanently. It is called Heaven. Eternity. Until then, we live by faith in the promises of God. That He is who He said He is and will keep His promises. Dave was super-intelligent (think Elon Musk-like). He was way out of my league when it came to smarts. But I have faith I’ll see him again when and where smarts won’t matter. 🙂 

{One last thing: pick up a copy of Dr. Warren’s book. You won’t be sorry}