In my latest reading of This Is Herman Cain, Herman Cain
talks about his experience with cancer and the birth of his
granddaughter (who, Cain joked, was waiting for him to arrive at
the hospital before she was born).
Regarding his experience with
cancer, it's interesting how Cain looked for divine signs that God was
with him and that everything would be okay. For example, when a worker
at a health center told Herman and his wife Gloria that her name was
Grace, Herman and Gloria saw that as a sign. When a surgeon told Herman
that he'd make an incision that looked like a "J", Cain thought about
"J" being for "Jesus". Herman says that "when you are in the 'Word,'
you can listen and hear when God is speaking to you" (page 96). When
Herman mentions on page 96 that he became cancer-free, he asks, "Did it
have something to do with the Lord wanting me to survive so that I might
help set this great nation of ours on its own path of recovery?"
But
Herman also had human help. He could be admitted to a cancer center,
for example, because he was friends with T. Boone Pickens. (Now that's a
name I forgot. Remember the oilman who was promoting alternative
energy on TV commercials?) Cain also had the support of his wife. When
Cain said that his faith was being tested, his wife corrected him by
saying that her faith was being tested, too. And nature helped out.
For example, part of Cain's liver was removed due to cancer, but Cain
was pleased (and surprised) to learn that "the liver regenerates itself
in about three months to 80 percent of original size" (page 99).
It's
interesting that a sophisticated, savvy businessman like Herman Cain
could have a faith in God that trusts in everything to turn out all
right, especially since there are plenty of people in the world who say
that such faith is a sign of naievity and immaturity, and that faith is
not applicable to the harsh realities of the real world. While Herman
trusts in God, however, he also evaluates situations and takes action,
and so he apparently does not deem faith to be an excuse to sit back and
do nothing. At the same time, due to his connections and his wealth,
there were options that were available to him that probably are not
available to some who struggle with cancer, and I find that to be
problematic. I think that God supports a just society that benefits and
respects the life of all people, not just those with money and
connections.
Another point: Now that Cain is out of the
Presidential race, I wonder if he looks back at his experience with
cancer differently? Does he still believe that God preserved his life
so that he could set America straight? And does he believe that God was
present with him even when women were making accusations against him
during his race for President----that even that was part of God's plan?