Finding Grace in the Unthinkable: A Journey from Fear to Presence
Adobe stock AI image by kama71.
I’m honored this week to share this deeply personal story from my friend Diana Funk, who reminds us that our most challenging transitions often become our greatest teachers. She shows us what it truly means to be present and compassionate in the face of the unthinkable.
On my husband's 50th birthday, in the middle of a surprise weekend trip to celebrate, we learned he had a rare cancer. It felt like the bottom dropped out. But what I didn't know then was how much worse it would get: six months later, we learned it had spread to his lungs. He had stage IV cancer, and we were told it was incurable.
There are no words to describe the emotions that you feel when faced with this kind of diagnosis; the best way I can describe it is a violent spiral of fear, anguish, disbelief, and despair.
The Slow Awakening to What We Cannot Control
It didn't happen overnight, but over the course of many months of his treatment and my caretaking, I began to realize that all of the anxiety and worry in the world wouldn't change anything. And once I came to terms with that, I began to let go. I don't think you can ever let go of it completely, but I no longer let it consume me.
I stopped living in the future, worried about what it would look like, and started focusing more on the present, making more memories. Reminding ourselves that we're usually not in control of situations can actually be very freeing. This shift—from fighting against reality to flowing with it—became my unexpected teacher in what it means to truly be present with life as it unfolds.
Compassion as a Radical Act
I've always been compassionate, but this experience took that power to a whole new level. I assume positive intent nearly 100% of the time now, because you just never know what heavy burdens people are carrying. If someone cuts me off in traffic, I no longer assume they're a rude jerk. I now tell myself that they're a new driver, or they're lost, or maybe they're rushing to the hospital to see someone they love. Even if I'm wrong, what's the harm in believing it?
Sacred Practices for Sacred Moments
Having just become a certified yoga instructor, yoga is at the top of my list of practices that keep me anchored! When I'm on my mat, I'm lost in the moment, focusing only on my breath and movement. I've also returned to my faith (and no one was more surprised about that than me).
More than anything else, though, I'm acutely aware of the limited amount of time we have in this life on earth, so it's important to do everything we can with it. I try more things, I seek out opportunities for laughter and connection, I love my people fiercely (and I tell them how much I love them). I also say "no" to people and things that aren't deserving of my time and energy.
Diana's practice of radical compassion is a sacred act—one that transforms not just how we see others, but how we can move through the world. Every interaction becomes an opportunity to honor the hidden struggles we all carry.
Her story illuminates the heart of what we explore at Brighid’s Flame—how life's most difficult moments can become doorways to deeper wisdom and connection. We're grateful for her courage in sharing this journey with our community.
If you have a story of transformation or sacred passage you'd like to share, we'd love to hear from you. Your experiences have the power to light the way for others walking similar paths.