Queen Billiard
going to the
Cue Ball to
declare cancer
a Royal Pain

Words cannot describe the mind-numbing fear and confusion I felt when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. At the time, I was already emotionally drained from worrying about the end of my marriage, my kids, my finances, and going back to work.

I still had my faith, but as the year dragged on, my situation felt more and more precarious. I wasn't even carrying my own health insurance. That was through my soon to be ex-husband's company. I was frazzled and discouraged.

I prayed tearfully for Christ to help me find the peace and joy Scripture promises. And what did I hear?

"Conehead."

I couldn't see any connection between my struggles and some crazy comedy about aliens with heads shaped like cones. How could that be God's answer to my coping with cancer? I kept getting an image of me sitting in the treatment room wearing a conehead. I continued to ask God what looking and acting like a fool could possibly accomplish.

It took me awhile to accept this as The Almighty's solution. For obvious reasons, I thought I'd misinterpreted the message. Discernment can be very difficult in prayer. I prayed again and again. One word kept coming to mind.

"Conehead." I thought the chemotherapy drugs were causing serious side effects. Yet, still I got, "Conehead." Day after day, I received the same stupid answer.

Finally I figured I'd give the Old Boy the benefit of the doubt. I purchased a conehead and some crazy wigs and wore them to my cancer treatments. The goofy outfits helped refocus my thoughts. The more positive and upbeat I was, the more positive and upbeat those around me were. It was strange, perhaps not as strange as what I was wearing, but the transformation was truly miraculous. Instead of being depressed, we were laughing together.

Others may have laughed at me instead of with me, but I don't get hung up on syntax. Fun is fun and joy is joy. When you're sick or depressed, it doesn't matter where it comes from, humor can heal.

About the AUTHOR : At the age of 36, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I was going through a divorce and had two young sons. I was called to minister to others through my fears and pain by wearing crazy outfits to treatment and writing spoofs and vignettes to go with them. By trusting in God’s solutions, I can honestly say I had fun with cancer, not from it, but with it. I started a one woman attitude adjustment crusade using humor as my weapon of choice. Come and laugh with me as we journey through the adventures into the lessons of life, faith and trust in God.

Conehead consumes mass quantities of chemo.