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'God is Good. God is Great. Hope is Eternal:' Lessons in Life and Dying

By Phil Haslanger
Phil Haslanger (l), and his friend Mike. Photo courtesy Phil Haslanger
Phil Haslanger (l), and his friend Mike. Photo courtesy Phil Haslanger
Jun 5, 2013
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My friend Mike died last week.

We were the same age. We grew up together in Marinette in northeast Wisconsin. Worked our way through Boy Scouts together. Played at each other’s houses. Studied in the same classrooms. And then, over time, we drifted apart. Until this past year. That’s when I learned that Mike was dying of cancer.

In less than 12 months, we re-established a friendship and Mike and his wife, Nancy, taught me amazing lessons about living with the prospect of dying.

In our initial contacts, Nancy wrote of Mike: 

“He is doing well with his treatments. I am amazed, each day, how well he handles this journey we are on. Never once have we asked ‘why us?’ We feel so blessed that we have each day to love each other and enjoy our retirement one day at a time. Not everyone is so lucky to have a long goodbye with the one they love.“

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Phil Haslanger (l), and his friend Mike. Photo courtesy Phil Haslanger
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