Definition of Eternal from Merriam-Webster
a: having infinite duration : EVERLASTING eternal damnation
b: of or relating to eternity
c: characterized by abiding fellowship with God “good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”— Mark 10:17 (Revised Standard Version)
David Guzik
In the 1930s an Australian alcoholic named Arthur Stace was converted and heard an inspiring sermon on the subject of eternity. The preacher said, “I wish I could shout ETERNITY through all the streets of Sydney!” Stace was so moved that as he left the church he felt an immediate urge to write the word Eternity; he had a piece of chalk in his pocket and bent down and wrote on the pavement. Stace was hardly literate and could barely write his own name legibly; but when he wrote Eternity, he did so in elegant copperplate style script, usually about 2 feet wide on the pavement. He spent the rest of his life – until 1967 – waking each day at about 5:30, praying for an hour or so, then going around Sydney where he felt God led him to write Eternity all over the city.
It’s been a year since I wrote my last blog. When I was first diagnosed with cancer five years ago, writing for me was a kind of therapy. I needed a way to process everything I was feeling to maintain a sense of control. Back then my doctors gave me two to five years to live. “Terminal” they said. This turned out to be a blessing and a curse. The blessing is a renewed awareness of the finality of life. Family and friends became more important and the stuff that used to annoy me didn’t bother me quite as much. Mary and I both learned not to sweat the small stuff, and it’s all small stuff.
“One of the mistakes many of us make is that we feel sorry for ourselves, or for others, thinking that life should be fair, or that someday it will be. It’s not and it won’t. When we make this mistake, we tend to spend a lot of time wallowing and/or complaining about what’s wrong with life. “It’s not fair,” we complain, not realizing that, perhaps, it was never intended to be.”
Richard Carlson, Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff … and It’s All Small Stuff: Simple Ways to Keep the Little Things From Making Over Your Life
The curse is that if you let yourself, you are in a constant state of holding your breath, waiting for the latest test results. In the beginning, I was consumed with research and looking for the next breakthrough. I spent the first two years flying back and forth to NIH, participating in their clinical trial, praying for a glimmer of hope. Most days, I spent reading the Word of God and praying for a miracle.
Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for you are my praise.
Jeremiah 17:14 (ESV)
Physically, I am feeling OK, but I get tired easily and have lost some muscle in my legs due to the hormone therapy. I’ve fallen a couple times when my legs gave out but haven’t suffered anything more than a skinned knee and bruised ego. The lesions on my pelvis haven’t grown and my PSA is under control for now. In fact, I have never really experienced any symptoms from the cancer. It’s the meds I take to control the cancer that remind me that I have the disease.
Last July we joined our travel buddies, Craig and Debbie, on a trip to Yellowstone National Park. We stayed in Cody, Wyoming for two weeks and ventured out to see Old Faithful, the Grand Prismatic Spring, Lamar Valley and rafted the Shoshone river. On the 4th of July we started the day with a two-hour trail ride in the Absaroka Mountains that left us hot, dusty, and achy. Later that day we attended the Cody Stampede, one of the best rodeos I’ve seen in person or on TV!
For our 25th anniversary in September, Mary and I went on a riverboat cruise on the Rhine from Amsterdam to Basel, Switzerland. My favorite part was the stretch of river called the Middle Rhine Valley. We sat on the top deck, drinking our coffee, and watched castle after castle pass us by. The cruise on the Rhine and four days of riding the rails in Switzerland were breathtaking but the flight to Amsterdam and the return to Tampa were stressful and exasperating due of the ever-changing COVID restrictions.
Mary and I are taking our family to visit my brother and sister-in-law in Oxnard, CA. in July. We are also planning to visit the Grand Canyon, Mt. Rushmore and the Arches National Park with Craig and Debbie in September. Mary still devotes time to our church, helping with the finances and I keep busy with my work with the Gideons.
There are some new treatments for prostate cancer on the horizon that may extend my life, but I no longer dwell on the time I have left. My focus is on my family, my friends and most importantly, sharing the saving grace of Jesus Christ with anyone I can. You see, it is no longer a terminal disease that consumes my thoughts but the eternal life that Jesus assures me of. I still start each day reading the Bible, but my prayer time is spent thanking God for His grace and asking Him to bless others. I guess this is my way to write “eternity” in my community.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.“
John 3:16 English Standard Version
Randy, I love your perspective—one we should all have. I’m glad to see you are well and that you and Mary are having some fabulous adventures. Love you both.
Thanks Christy! I have to believe that as believers, we are all on a journey of discovering God’s plan. Whether we think it’s good or bad, His plan always glorifies the Father.
Randy you and Mary have truly been blessed and the time you have left on this earth will allow you to share your story about your past present and future!!
The fact that you no longer dwell on your condition is also a blessing .
Hi Randy, I enjoyed reading this and it is very inspirational to understand how are thoughts can bring us victory! Love you and Mary
We miss you and Ray! Love you too!
Beautifully written. Thank you
Thanks Danny!
Randy you and Mary have truly been blessed and the time you have left on this earth will allow you to share your story about your past present and future!!
The fact that you no longer dwell on your condition is also a blessing
Thanks Mark. I can’t imagine what it would be like to go through a life-threatening disease without Jesus in my life!
Randy, thanks for your insight and for being my brother in Christ. You are a warrior!
Thanks Ralph!
Randy, Love this! And the pictures are awesome too!
Thanks G. Time to break bread soon!
I love you Randy Bartlein 😘💜🙏🏻
Right back at you Donna McKee!
Randy, I w just now had a chance to sit down and read your blog! Wow! What an awesome revelation and testimony you have my brother. Your experience is a true wake up call for all of us. Thank you for being so transparent and obedient to share what the Lord is doing in your life. I know it will minister you many lives like mine. Love and appreciate you brother!😊
Thank you for your kind words, Rose! In my heart of hearts, I know that God is using me and my cancer to reach others. John Piper wrote an inspirational piece called “Don’t Waste Your Cancer” that a friend sent to me soon after my diagnosis that lifted my spirits. Thanks again for all you do for His kingdom!
You are a true, dedicated man of God. I love your new blog. Thanks for letting me see and hear what is going on.
Thanks Rich! Mary gave me an A- on this one. High praise from my biggest supporter!
What a great way to write Eternity, Randy ! I enjoyed the blog. Dan H
Thanks Dan. It took me a year to write this one for several reasons, but God has been giving me direction.
Thanks Randy for your powerful testimony.May the Lord continue to bless you and Mary🙏
Thanks Ed. I am grateful to know you and all my Gideon brethren!
As always, all good stuff!
Thanks sis! Looking forward to seeing you in July!
Inspiring words my friend. Love the pictures. You no I love the West. Keep em coming. Luv ya
Thanks Alan!
Randy, your testimony is so powerful because of how you have demonstrated the presence of God in your life but also because you live every day as a shining example of a man giving of yourself to serve others.
My life has changed for the better because of you.