Living
& Dying
by Larry A. Toller
Smashwords Edition
Copyright
© 2012 Larry A. Toller. All rights reserved.
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Scripture quotations marked HCSB are been taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB®, and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.
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DEDICATION
Dedicated
to writers who write for the pleasure of writing.
Dedicated to the
children in Zambia.
In
Memory of my favorite proofreader,
My Sister,
April
Toller-Jagger
1955-2011
Thank you to Kelly Chapman for
proof reading. It’s nice to know someone who knows grammar and
punctuation.
Thank you God for blessing me with an
amazing,
loving family!
Author
Web Page:
www.memoryjournaling.com
Also read:
My Story
Your Story His Story
By Larry A Toller,
Foreword by Governor
Mike Huckabee
100%
of royalties from Living & Dying and My Story Your Story His
Story support our mission efforts with African Vision of
Hope
www.africanvisionofhope.org
Introduction
Very simply, this is a collection of my writings.
Some poetry, some prose, some a mixture of the two (I call it prosetry) and some very short stories.
Cautionary notes:
I write conversationally. So, when I ask a question, I hope you will feel free to respond.
I have the great blessing
of having ADDRB (Attention Deficit Disorder Really Bad).
This is
sometimes apparent in
my writing style.
I know it, now you
know it and
we can move on.
The beginning of this book
relating to “Resisting Gravity” is the beginning of another book
called: “Resisting Gravity” which will be a collection of
Biblical, historical and contemporary life stories of those who have
successfully lived a life of resistance.
(You’ll understand
this if you keep reading.)
I would love to hear stories of those you have known who are “Gravity Resistors”
Send to: mystory@MemoryJournaling.com
My Collection
This book is my
collection,
Meandering reflections.
These verses are not like
some,
To dark and depressed succumb.
With words I celebrate
life,
In spite of toil and strife.
It’s not a passing
thing,
For my heart and pen to sing.
If one solitary word,
In
your heart of hearts is heard.
If strength comes from this
refrain,
My work here is not in vain.
The Title: Living & Dying
If
you are reading this book you are alive. You are living.
Congratulations!
But
you are also dying.
All of us are.
We are one breath
closer to that moment of taking our last breath.
Living is not just breathing, heart beating, blood flowing and body functioning.
Living is what we do and can do while we are occupying space above ground.
The stories, poems and prosetry in this book are about either living or dying or both, because everything, in every moment, is about living or dying. It’s not about the fact we are still pumping blood, it’s what we do and who we are while blood is pumping.
Resisting Gravity
The only real purpose of gravity as far as humanity is concerned is to keep us on the planet.
What almost all humans don’t realize is that gravity is pulling us to the dust from which we were formed. It is pulling us to our grave.
If all we are doing, on earth, is keeping connected to the earth then life is futile.
The so-called “Law of Gravity” says we don’t have to struggle with staying on earth. The Law keeps you here. What goes up must come down and even if you come down a great distance: No Worry! The earth will encompass you and keep you comfy until you are part of the outer crust.
Now, you are probably thinking, “This Guy sounds negative.” You are wrong! Mostly.
The purpose of this chapter is to help you realize that other than keeping you from hurling off the planet. Gravity is not a good law.
Several have attempted to explain to me the principles of flight and how these principles allow a well designed hunk of metal to defy the law of Gravity. There is nothing wrong with their ability to explain, it’s my ability to comprehend.
In truth, I enjoy wondering more than knowing. I am sure most of the gravity held planet is with me on this.
Here’s the Principle of Resisting Gravity:
The
more tied to the things of the world
(earth) the
more difficult it will be to overcome the Law of Gravity
(pulling you into the crust). The
more you are connected to things of God, the easier it will be to
overcome the law of Gravity and take flight.
The
first spacewalk occurred on June 3, 1965, when Ed White took the
first small leap into zero gravity. Well, not really zero. However,
minute gravity is everywhere, even in space.
As Astronaut White
floated above the earth; the earth, moon, sun and everything else was
pulling on him with butterfly wing strength.
Any body that
has mass has gravity. We as human beings have mass, therefore we
exert a gravitational force. It’s small but it is real. So in a
sense we may assist gravity in bringing others down or helping others
resist gravity. (yeah, I crossed my eyes too.)
My British
uncle Sir Isaac Newton (1643-1727) proved that gravitational force
decreases as the distance from any object increases.
So the closer we are and the more of us there are, the more we influence others toward the crust or toward flight.
Here’s one who resisted Gravity:
Enoch
Gen
54:21-25,
21
Enoch was 65 years old when he fathered
Methuselah. 22
And after the birth of Methuselah, Enoch walked with God 300 years
and fathered sons and daughters. 23
So Enoch's life lasted 365 years. 24
Enoch walked with God, and he was not there, because God took him.
Hebrews
11:5
5
By faith, Enoch was taken away so that
he did not experience
death, and he was
not to be found because God took him away.
For
prior to his transformation he was
approved, having pleased God
Not much is said about Enoch, yet these few words speak volumes about his character, perseverance, service, devotion, and love of God.
He
walked with God.
Think about it: Walking WITH God.
Stop
right now (unless you are driving or operating machinery) think about
what it would be like to walk with God every single day.
Every
waking moment.
How awesome would that be?!
If only we could.
Wait a minute; we can! We just choose not to.
Enoch resisted Gravity.
He lived a Godly life in an ungodly world.
As a result, he experienced God as a friend, companion, confidant, advisor, and guide on a journey talking, laughing, and living a life which was pleasurable to God and Enoch.
David could have walked with God but instead kept wandering off the path. Gravity kept pulling him down. (Bathsheba, pride, etc.)
To walk WITH God requires a humble spirit, and a living faith.
Do you ever walk with a friend?
Why would you walk with a friend? You have something in common, you have a relationship, you have a high level of trust, you have commonality, you enjoy the presence of your friend!
The benefits of walking WITH God: Protection, intimacy, strength, revelation of truth, confidence, guidance, blessings, joy, peace, understanding, strength to name a few.
The high level of intimacy Enoch had with God is attainable! It requires a focused life on Things Eternal not earthy (temporal).
This is how we resist gravity.
Flying with Cheryl
(Co-written by Dennis Chandler)
One of the first discoveries made after our move to Troy, Illinois in 2008 was the Pizza Man restaurant. Over time I developed a friendship with owners Dennis and Cheryl Chandler, manager Eli Carr and several of the staff. The purpose of chronicling Cheryl’s journey with cancer is to raise awareness of the battle and to honor her and Dennis Chandler’s courage through the journey. Cheryl’s story is an example of one who “resisted gravity”
“Some see a hopeless end,
while others see an endless hope.”
April 15, 2009
Just days before Cheryl was working in her yard, she was experiencing continued pain in her shoulder, so she went to check it out. After tests which led to more tests, she and Dennis heard the words no one wants to hear: CANCER.
The biopsy revealed stage four lung cancer which had metastasized to localized lymph nodes. Dennis was stunned by the diagnosis. The doctor’s words in the consultation room as they waited on Cheryl, “Dennis, this isn’t good.” Beyond that, the only words heard: “Serious” “not curable”
Cheryl’s first words, “How long do I have left?”
After the options were explained, her second statement: “Let’s get it done!”
Thirty-one straight days of Chemo and radiation. The very aggressive attack on the cancer continued.
She never complained.
She never showed fear.
She fought hard.
Two weeks prior to Christmas 2009:
After CAT and PET scans, the amazing words:
“The Cancer is gone!”
April 2010: The regular PET scan reveals the lung cancer was back and a brain tumor. A Gamma Ray Knife procedure to remove the tumor was successful and continued chemo and radiation resulted in the cancer going away again by November 2010.
She never complained.
She never showed fear.
She fought hard.
January 2011: A temporary setback.
A PET Scan reveals another brain tumor. The same procedure is successful. The future looks bright Cheryl gains strength back begins working again along with Dennis at the Pizza Man Restaurant, the business they began together.
This was a joyful time for Dennis, Cheryl friends and family. It was always a pleasure to visit Pizza Man and see both of them smiling.
March 2011:
The Cancer returned with fury.
Lungs, lymph nodes, hip, kidney, pancreas, and four more brain tumors.
Cheryl’s response was the same as it always was: “what do I need to do.”
It was a horrific battle for six months. Constant trips to the hospital, several in an ambulance after collapsing and passing out from internal bleeding. Blood clots, transfusions, pain.
Dennis stayed by her side the entire journey, he was nurse, and care giver. He cleaned the messes, even in the hospital he would clean and dress her. Toward the end he would carry her throughout the house, where ever she wanted to go.
Cheryl was alert a few days before her death and was able to say her goodbyes. She also made sure she was fully connected to her Lord. She was ready for the journey approaching.
She was silent and still for most of the next two days.
September 22, 2011: Cheryl’s sisters arrived in her room.
At 6:40 pm Cheryl sat up in bed looked directly in Dennis’ eyes, laid back in bed, shut her eyes, ceased life on earth and began life eternal.
The look was not fearful or confused. It was clearly communicated to Dennis: “I’m leaving now and it’s going to be fine.”
Cheryl never complained, ever.
She never showed fear, ever.
She fought hard against an unbeatable foe with valor and courage.