First Person

My friends are praying for me. Does God care?

God’s response to Job is cold comfort when you have terminal cancer.

Since I went public about my brain cancer a couple of months ago, I’ve had many people of many faiths offer prayers for me. Some said they were hoping to nudge the Almighty to heal me.

I appreciate every such message. After all, glioblastoma is tough. The median survival rate is only a few months more than a year. Maybe my friends could offer God some reasons to boost my survival odds?

But I’ve been a reporter for a long time. I chew on any such broad claim, thinking about whether there are valid rebuttals.