On the Journey With
Olivia Newton John...
In honor of national breast awareness month, I thought it fitting to profile a note-worthy breast cancer warrior. Olivia Newton John is one of many Hollywood stars who was quite open about her cancer journey. Given that she also starred in one of my favorite movies that I enjoyed as a teenager (Grease), I thought her story might be most fitting to share here.
Olivia was a British and Australian singer and actress. She was a four-time Grammy Award winner, whose career included 15 top ten singles and two number one albums. In 1978, she starred in the musical Grease, which was the highest-grossing musical film at the time and whose soundtrack remains one of the world’s best-selling albums. With over 100 million records sold, Olivia is one of the best-selling music artists of all time and the highest-selling female Australian recording artist.
Sadly, she had breast cancer three different times and died after a long fight with the disease on August 8, 2022. At the time of her diagnosis, which just so happen to coincide with the death of her father (1991), she became immediately active as a national spokesperson on the effects of this horrible disease. She also founded the Olivia Newton John Cancer and Wellness Center at Austin Hospital in her hometown of Melbourne Australia.
Her diagnosis also affected the kind of music she recorded. In 1994, she released Gaia: One Woman’s Journey which chronicled her ordeal. In 2006, she released her self- proclaimed ‘healing CD’ which was sold exclusively by Walgreens. Proceeds benefitted various cancer-related charities and a breast cancer examination kit and breast health supplements.
In 2008 she led a three-week 228 km walk along the great Wall of China where she was joined by various celebrities and cancer survivors. Near the end of her life, she auctioned hundreds of memorabilia items from her career. The sale raised $2.4 million for cancer research. Her outfit from Grease garnered $405,700 alone.
After the third reoccurrence, she was interviewed by USA Today, where she reflected on her journey, “I think that you can live with cancer like you can live with other things, if you take care of yourself. … It taught me I’m stronger than I thought I was. I think most people that go through cancer find that out about themselves.”
Her journey, like so many others, remind us that in some odd way, cancer is both a tragedy and a gift. It reminds us of the fragility of life, and it gives us a platform from which to encourage and inspire others.
Soul Care with
Pastor Jenn
To Pastor (verb): to shepherd, advise, and guide into a place of deeper spiritual understanding
“I am fearfully and wonderfully made…”
“What people think about me is none of my business.”
My counselor said this to me recently. On a logical level, I understand it. On an emotional level, well, that’s more of a struggle. It’s interesting the ways in which we choose to conform to something that was never meant to be us. Sometimes for the happiness of others, sometimes for success, and sometimes because our own sense of self just doesn’t feel good enough.
It’s something I’m working through myself as I unravel the pieces of me that aren’t really me. They are pieces I picked up and put on at various times in my life for a variety of reasons. Only now as I return to the person God truly created me to be, do I see those pieces as not belonging to me. So, I’m in a season where I can finally shake those pieces off and relearn how to be truly me. For a chronic people pleaser, it isn’t the most comfortable of processes but is sure is freeing to remember that what people think about me is none of my business.
I’m following hard after Jesus and loving others as He would have me love them. The rest is up to Him. If I show up every day as my God-created, authentic self, then that is genuinely good enough. And the same is true for you. God created only one of you and, I can promise you that what He created He also called good. You, whoever you are, are a pretty amazing human being. The world desperately needs you to show up as you with all the love God has given to you. You are a world changer exactly as you are!
Caregivers Corner with
Lori Smith
To Support (noun): to provide assistance that enables one to function or act.
In our 18-month cancer journey we spent a lot of time in a hospital setting, and here is what I noticed. In hospitals there is a lot of busy rushing for the hospital staff, and a lot of “hurry up and wait” for the patients. It was as though no one really thought about what was happening, but rather everyone was just “doing.” I thought more than once, “there has to be a better way!”
Don’t get me wrong, I have the highest respect and admiration for nurses, doctors, and all other hospital staff. They do things day in and day out that would wear anyone down quickly, and many still manage to do it with a smile. They deserve our prayers and our praise. But, as a caregiver, I actually became bored just sitting and waiting. And there is only so much reading you can do! So, I took up crocheting (which didn’t last long), and I walked around a good bit. I talked with other caregivers who were waiting. I pondered life. I prayed. I listened to music. But I still felt confined!
If you are in a place of “hurry up and wait” in your cancer journey, I just want to encourage you today that even in the places of confinement, God has a plan and He is working. Consider Jeremiah 33 – the prophet is imprisoned; confined in the courtyard of the guard, yet God speaks to him for a second time a promise of restoration for Israel.
Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security. I will bring Judah and Israel back from captivity and will rebuild them as they were before. Jeremiah 33:6-7
Before this verse is the promise of death and destruction for Israel, and no promise to Jeremiah that he will be released from his own personal circumstances.
Know this. Unlike in a hospital, God doesn’t rush around while we wait. He invites us into a place of rest with Him right now in our confinement. His good work and restoration continue while we wait. This week, I encourage you to give His rest a try as best as you can. Give Him your boredom and feelings of confinement, and know that someday, even that will be redeemed.
Worship Moment with
Joel Salabarria
To Inspire (verb): to fill someone with the urge or ability to do or feel something, especially to do something creative.
Song: My King Forever (Spotify, YouTube and Apple Music)
Band: Bethel Music, Josh Baldwin
From: Homecoming, 2021
This song has been wrecking me as it paints the picture of what Jesus did for us and how my response must be TOTAL SURRENDER and servitude! High King of Heaven, you are my King forever.
You gave Your life for mine
Nailed to the cross
You crucified all my sin and shame
It was washed by Your mercy
You are the treasure I find
My reason for living
So let my life become an offering
To the One who is worthy
And all praise to the Lord most high
All praise to the One who saved my life
All praise to Jesus Christ
High King of Heaven
My King forever
You stormed the gates of my heart
The veil in between was torn apart
Now You hold the keys to the grave
Cause You bring things to life
You roll stones away
And all praise to the Lord most high
All praise to the One who saved my life
All praise to Jesus Christ
High King of Heaven
My King forever
All praise to the Lord most high
All praise to the One who saved my life
All praise to Jesus Christ
High King of Heaven
My King forever
Oh
So I lift my hands up
Lay my whole life down
My whole life down before You
I lift my hands up
Lay my whole life down
My whole life now is for You
And I lift my hands up
Lay my whole life down
My whole life down before You
I lift my hands up
Lay my whole life down
My whole life now is for You, every voice
And I lift my hands up
Lay my whole life down
My whole life down before You
I lift my hands up
Lay my whole life down
My whole life now is for You, yeah
Poetic Encouragement with
Julie Clarke
To Encourage (noun): to give support and hope to someone so that they will do or continue to do something.
The 16th of September
Oh my little love,
Just don’t give up now
When the love of your life
Is still yet to be found
There so much to try
and new things to discover
In your search for this love
There’s new things to uncover
There will be struggles,
Disappointments and such
And my heart hurts for you
When you carry so much
AND, you are a treasure
just beginning to start
Uncovering the depths
Of the rooms in your heart
So wake up to morning
To a sunrise, new day
Blow all the the clouds
And the worries away
And let this upset
Be a crumb you remember
That motivates you
This 16th of September
To build on compassion
For the lost or unwanted
The loneliness hiding
Where the enemy’s hunted
Remember my eyes are
Always on you
You’re the love of my life
Since twelve twenty two
So wrap up today
In the arms of my love
And allow your heart
To feel this shove
And cry all you need
But hold on to your faith
That the best’s yet to come
And this moment is safe
For I am with you
Every bump high and low
Guiding you through
You deserve to know
So hold your head high
And trust in the plan
For the love of your life
Is here holding your hand
Never give up your hope
Let love find its way
And in the end, dear
You will hear me say
You did it! So well!
Your heart has found home
all the struggles and pain
Have led you to own
The finest of treasure
Pure silver, pure gold
The glowing reflection
Of the hand that you hold
Nutrition Nuggets with
Suzanna Hake
To Nourish (verb): the act or process of being nourished.
Juicing is one of the very best way to flood your cells with essential, life-giving nutrients. It extracts the juice from fruits and veggies removing the fiber allowing you to consume the nutrients of nearly 2 pounds of produce in one 16 oz bottle. Talk about super-charging your cells!
This is the gift you are giving your body:
🥕Carrot: rich in beta carotene which is converted into vitamin A. Helpful for immunity, vision, and nutrient absorption.
✨Celery: mineral rich in potassium and folate, reduces inflammation.
☀️Beet: Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant
🥒Cucumber: highly alkalizing and rich in Vit A,C, K and magnesium
🍏Green Apple: highly alkaline, anti-inflammatory fruit that aids in digestion
🍋Lemon: anti-aging, provides deep hydration to awaken mind and body
🥬Kale: antibiotic, antiviral and anti-inflammatory
🧄Garlic: reduces oxidative stress, strengthens immunity
🌈Turmeric: its most active compound is curcumin which can fight off viral infections
Piet's Ponderings
To Ponder (verb): to think about something carefully, especially before making a decision or reaching a conclusion.
This past Friday, I started sharing a series of short videos that capture the highs/lows of my cancer journey. My hope is to offer encouragement and hope to my fellow cancer warriors AND perspective and strength for those who are walking alongside them.
I am calling it the ministry of ‘identification’.
If you identify with the content and feel like it might be helpful to people you know and love, please feel to share in whatever way makes sense to you. You will find the videos on YouTube and Instagram.
May God use this for good!
A huge shout out to my friend and filmmaker Martin Zavala who helped bring this work into reality, and my son Curran Van Waarde, whose music plays in the background on the majority of the clips.
Prayer of the Week
Christianity.com
To Pray (verb): Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer ad petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God )Philippians 4:6)
Gracious Father, bless and strengthen those who care for their loved ones who are struggling. Grant them patience, compassion, and endurance as they support the one in need of their support. Provide wisdom to the medical professionals involved and guide their decisions. May your love be evident in the care their loved one receives. In Jesus’ name, I pray.
Amen.
Interested in supporting this new initative?
The Van Waarde Foundation underwrites and supports a variety of projects and team members committed to supporting, educating, and encouraging fellow cancer warriors and their families. As we look to the future, we are excited about creating a variety of new resources that will provide pastoral support to those battling cancer. This initiative will include this newsletter AND a host of other resources including a new podcast providing helpful information on health and fitness, fresh pocket prayers delivered daily to fellow cancer warriors, a new page on the website “heal” Heal – Piet Van Waarde with weekly reflections on navigating the “dailyness” of the journey, plus a soon-coming book Keep on Healing that will address the top 50 questions people face when confronted by a cancer diagnosis. We want to make these resources available at little/no cost to those who need them, and your support through the Foundation (https://www.patreon.com/pietvanwaarde) makes that possible.
Thank you in advance for your prayerful consideration.