Building Altars That Shape Our Faith

A good friend, Jared Dyson, runs an online ministry called “Digging Another Well” and shares an insightful message each morning. Today’s piece was called “The Altar: Building Altars That Shape Our Faith and Purpose.” It was a message about those moments in life when we know we have been touched by God. In Jared’s words, altars are “Moments of interaction with God that leave us different from the way we were before we arrived.” It is a beautiful piece that speaks to us about being attuned to our lives and recognizing those special moments when we may have come to a fork in our journey, and God was there to direct us along the right path. God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to guide Shay and me along the journey we have traveled since the day I built my altar.

The Altar touched me deeply. I built my own altar on January 28, 2025, when I was first diagnosed with Esophageal Cancer. There were no tears or fear—just a quiet surrender as I took my Sweetheart Shay’s hand and put my life in Jesus Christ’s care. He has been with us every step of the journey. I say “us” because no one faces cancer alone, and I was blessed to have Shay with me. Every procedure—an aborted Esophagectomy, a failed Resection, and even Radiation, which dissolved the tumor but left me with heart failure—was unsuccessful. The doctors did their best, but they only practice medicine; we had Jesus Christ on our team, and He is medicine. Only by His grace am I cancer-free. Now we face new challenges with my heart, but Jesus is still with us, as are the many friends around us who traveled our journey and prayed for me to be healthy again. With so many medical setbacks, my remission can only be explained by divine intervention. Our altar is not just a symbol of my battle; we wake to it each morning and strive to live in His light every day.

I know that God did not call me home because he still has a plan for me. His Son is with us for a reason, and I believe that is to spread the word that in a time of great challenges, we may look to those around us for help. We only need to look above, put our faith in God, take Jesus’ hand, and we will live the destiny God has already written for us. I have started an online support group for patients, survivors, and caregivers who have been touched by cancer. I know that with Grace Along the Journey, we can help so many, but we could use a prayer that people will find us and share our message: that we are in God’s hands, and that, in addition to all the doctors, it is He we must turn to.

In your prayers, please remember all of those who fight cancer or any other demon, and ask that they turn their attention above, build their own altar, and celebrate that we are in the hands of God and Jesus Christ.

May God bless you and wrap his loving and protective arms around you, Ray