Dichotomies

Some days it feels like we are living sharp experiences of dichotomies, sort of like the two world experience like we have described before.

Today, Chris and I are in Chicago, at Northwestern Hospital, for the start of his Car-T treatment.  He recovered from the flu and last week made it through 3 days of outpatient chemotherapy.  It has been a tough past few days with more nausea and vertigo than he has experienced before.

Chemo and cancer can feel like a dichotomy: One day Chris is appearing very well, attending meetings, exercising, doing all-the-things, and in the course of 36 hours he is spending most of the day in bed and sometimes feeling miserable.  This has been on repeat over the past many months.

When we arrived downtown to start the chemo treatment the weather was so pleasant.  We took a walk along the lakeshore, very near the hospital and near Navy Pier.  I have always enjoyed Lake Michigan and it has always represented peace, rest, and beauty.  Now that we are on the Chicago side of the lake the dichotomy struck me so strongly.  On one side lays Lake Michigan in all its beautiful God-given glory and just a few meters away towering buildings and a bustling city, such a sharp dichotomy.

Being in downtown Chicago has had its interesting moments.  One day I was riding down the hotel elevator and when the doors opened there in front of me stood three tall, green, American-looking leprechauns.  The lobby was filled with all sorts of green outfits; lucky me my exercise shirt was green.  Happy St. Patrick’s Day, Chicago style.  We were able to go out for a very short masked walk to see the green river and all the revelry.  We pretty quickly retreated into our hotel room, more medication, and more rest.  Another strong dichotomy. 

Good thing Christ knows all about dichotomies…he gets it, he lived it too, he did it best.  In him all things, even sharp dichotomies, hold together.

Colossians 1:15-20
The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

John 1:1-5
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Tomorrow, Tuesday, March 17th is the long-awaited-for CAR-T infusion day.  We praise our great God for allowing us to get to this day and this time with a great medical team and with great test results a few weeks ago.  We are trusting God’s plan and provision for Chris both today, tomorrow for the infusion, and for his future health.

Prayers:

That God’s power would be over all things happening at Northwestern for Chris’ treatment.

That Chris would not have any negative health reactions that are not part of God’s plan for him.

For our family as we spend many days apart; I will return to GR to be with the kids on Wednesday.  Again, our parents are a huge part of our support – pray for them.

Future look ahead:

Chris will be in the hospital 7-14 days. This is to monitor for rare symptoms and be able to respond quickly if they occur.  Following infusion, he will stay in the Chicago area for 30 days so he is nearby for medical support and appointments; this is a mandatory part of this treatment.  On April 15 he will have a full battery of tests including the CT/PET and MRIs to track his progress.

By 40 Comments on Dichotomies

40 Replies to “Dichotomies”

  1. Praying it all goes well tomorrow and God gives you peace. In the Mighty Name of Jesus, Amen!

    1. Chris and Becca
      You’re both a treasure, loved, called and appointed-God has your address!
      PS 27:13-14 Remain confident of this-you will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living, wait for the Lord, be strong, take heart.

      Praying for each area you’ve asked us to.

  2. So nice to see your smiling faces and the rare green river. Praying things go well tomorrow

  3. We feel the dichotomy all the time and in so many ways, Chris and Rebecca. We recruited in the Chicago area for many years at various schools (you know which ones we’re referring to) and were amazed at the vast difference going to Chicago, less than 3 hours away. We love you and your family and want you to be reassured of our prayers for the entire family. These are challenging days but God is fully and totally aware of your situation. We pray for total and complete healing. Blessings to you both.

  6. Psalm 119:89,90
    Forever, O Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens.
    Your faithfulness endures to all generations;
    you have established the earth, and it stands fast.

    We can praise the Lord for His unchanging Word; His faithfulness doesn’t change. He hears us when we pray, He loves us more, deeper when our need for Him is greater. Please remember, no matter what your moment by moment challenge, trial, pain, despair, loneliness, confusion, whatever it is that you face………He knows, He is there, HE IS GOD.

  7. Praying for you & your family- for God’s best in all as you are separated & then reunited. May you clearly see our faithful God’s loving hand guiding & directing. Praying on for Chris’ complete healing! Lord, hear our prayers!

  8. Great perspective. May all go well moment by moment cell by cell. Blessings in Christ who can do all things in you.

  9. Praying for you guys! We actually have Colossians 1:17 inscribed in our wedding rings!

  10. Much love and prayers for you both and the family. May the greening fun of St Patrick’s Day be the greening of healing and new life for you all. Viv xox

  11. Continuing to pray that God would use all these dichotomies for your blessing and restored health.

  12. Praying for Gods Favor upon you both this day and His Mercies never ending.
    May you see the Hands of Jesus, the Eyes of Jesus, the Love and the Heart of Jesus in everyone treating you this day
    Prayers for you all

  13. Praying for you all as your day starts, remembering that God will be with you wherever you go, and He fights the battles (Joshua 1:9). Sending you a big hug and our love.

  15. Praying with renewed vigor today and in the days to come. May the Lord sustain and heal. Love from us both.

  16. Continually praying in these days and for your journey ahead. May this be a day of peace and rest in our great God.

  18. Thank you for your updates and the wonderful descriptions of what you both are going through. You are in our prayers everyday.

    Both sets of parents are such a blessing and
    help to insure that your kids stay on an even keel through this difficult time. And they ,too, are blessed by their time with their grandkids.

  21. Thank you for the updates. Chris is in my prayers often during the day. God is in control.

  22. We pray for healing and peace as you go through this day, knowing that Jesus is our faithful companion. That’s a beautiful photo of you two!

  23. Praying for all in the Hirt family in these two coming weeks. May you be comforted encouraged and loved greatly

  24. Praying that those ‘beefed up’ cells enter your body, look around and say “hmmm…I like it here, this feels like home. No nasty cells need enter”.
    Love and hugs to both Chris and Bec
    Aunt Sherri and Uncle Dave

  26. Chris and Becca
    Be assured that our all-powerful,all-knowing ,all-loving GOD has you in His comforting arms.
    Nikki K.

  28. Prayers, prayers and more prayers are being lifted up on you and your family’s behalf. To God be the glory!

  30. Praying for you all – that all goes according to plan and as expected. And that it feels quick and is as easy as possible.

  31. Hi Becca, what a beautiful message. I will forward it to our kids. Dichotomies can be jarring and can seem irreconcilable. How could it be that Jesus could make peace through his blood? Yet he did it. He redeemed all the dichotomies and said they all work together for good through him. So we now live in the peace that he created. And we invite others to join us in that peace. And that peace reigns whatever our circumstances, because neither height nor depth nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. So although we may feel the sharp contrasts of the dichotomies, the reality is something different. The reality is the new creation as we with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory. As you and Chris live out this time of dichotomies, being buffeted by the forces of this world, may the Lord find you a place close to Jesus to sleep peacefully through the storm. May he keep you safe right there beside him. We are praying for you and send our love to you all. Love, Joanne

  32. Hi Chris
    Praying for you!
    God is good. All the time. Regardless of what we go through. Never ascribe to the Lord something that is an attack from the enemy who only ever seeks to kill steal and destroy.
    We’re just finishing up 4 months in NZ and head back to Thailand next Tuesday (25th March).
    Blessings

  33. Thank you for the update, and we are continuing to pray with and for you all! Christ certainly does know dichotomies; I’ve been spending time in the scriptures about Christ’s passion – which often leaves me speechless. We entrust you all to God’s faithful care.

  35. Praying for you and your family during this time of treatment and separation. Praying for healing, peace, courage, energy, and encouragement. Thinking of you all!

  36. Becca and Chris—you continue to inspire me….your faith and seeing your smiles viewing the green Chicago River….you continue to amaze me…..I pray for you all daily and ask God to intervene in a positive healing way…Peace to you both…One day at a time.
    with much love and encouragement,
    Sue Howard

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