June 2, 2026
It began ten days before Thanksgiving with not being able to completely swallow a pill. It got stuck on the way down and refused to move. My husband was so uncomfortable, we ended up in the ER. An X-ray was taken…nothing showed up, but the doctor decided to admit my husband for more tests. After two more scans and a biopsy we were told that Harry had esophageal cancer. By the end of the week, we had met with the oncologist and a treatment plan was in place. It felt like we were walking in a very dark valley. With sessions of chemotherapy and immunotherapy scheduled, more tests, more appointments…we just walked forward, step by step. After three chemo sessions, Harry was so ill, he welcomed being hospitalized. I was exhausted, but had promised to begin an interfaith series at Centering Space…and showed up in January…and was so glad I did.
I was greeted with a warm hug from Carol, and I could feel my stress begin to melt away. I sat in a circle of caring individuals, and the darkness I had felt gave way to light. We went around our circle, each person lifting the name of someone in need of renewal of body, renewal of spirit. And we lifted our voices in a prayer-song of healing.
In Psalm 23:4 we read: “Though I walk through a valley of deepest darkness, You are with me… comforting me…”
In a time of deepest darkness, the beautiful souls of Centering Space reminded me that I was not alone. God’s Presence in the arms and smiles and sweet voices of those beside me indeed did comfort me. The people of Centering Space provided that Presence.
~Enid Lader