Faith in the Face of Finality
By Rev. Todd Humphrey
Facing a terminal diagnosis is a moment that reshapes everything. It’s the ultimate wake-up call to the brevity of our mortal experience here on playground planet Earth. Yet even in the shadow of such news, healing is possible. Healing, after all, is not always about curing the body but about awakening to a deeper truth of who we are.
I think often of my friend Bobby, who was diagnosed with ALS. The progression of his illness was relentless and swift, stripping him of physical abilities and forcing him to rely on others in ways that were uncomfortable. In the years I knew him he was a man dedicated to his family, his friends, and most especially to his work as an educator. Without ever drawing attention to himself, he was committed to serving others.
As his legs began to fail him on a more frequent basis, I learned of his dedication to his personal relationship with God. Several months after the diagnosis, he began questioning his faith in a way he never had before.
One afternoon as we sat in his living room, he asked, “Why is God punishing me? Have I sinned so terribly that this is what I deserve?” My answer, “I don’t believe God punishes us,” allowed him to explode with anger. “Then tell me why this is happening,” he demanded, tears streaming down his face. “Tell people to stop coming over. I don’t want anyone to see me like this.”
“You’ve always been there for everyone else, Bobby, never letting anyone be of service to you. Why would you deny them the opportunity to show you how much they care for you, how much they love you? I don’t know why this is happening, but maybe letting them be of service is a part of healing.”
Willing to be Served
Accompanying Bobby through his illness was a significant part of my learning to trust in the Divine. Together we prayed for his healing, and I surrendered to a deeper understanding of what healing might mean. As the disease progressed, Bobby’s physical capabilities diminished, and his willingness to be served by a community who loved him increased. He found joy in small moments: watching his favorite TV shows, having his mother scratch his head, and sitting quietly while receiving our love.
Faith didn’t save Bobby from his illness, but his willingness to let himself be loved transformed his experience. Witnessing the opening of his heart to love as his physical body declined taught me that healing can happen in consciousness, even when the body doesn’t reflect the transformation.
As Jesus’ words remind us, “Your faith has made you well.” Not because it guarantees a cure, but because it calls us to the wholeness that is always ours.
This article first appeared in the Unity booklet, The Power of Faith to Heal.
About the Author
Rev. Todd Humphrey is the minister at Crystal Coast Unity in Atlantic Beach, North Carolina.