Real Heroes

Rev. Harry Lehotsky has been a Christian folk hero in Winnipeg for many years. His tireless work in Winnipeg's rough West End has been an example to many about ministry in the midst of the poor. Harry is so well-respected that he even has a regular column in the Winnipeg Sun, where he pulls no punches.

Rev. Lehotsky has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, which is a very aggressive form of cancer, and has already spread to other organs and his lymph system. The doctors are projecting that he may have only six weeks to live.

Jamie Arpin-Ricci blogs about Rev. Lehotsky, and Brother Maynard has posted some thoughts as well, and includes this poignant excerpt from local media:

Well known minister and outspoken activist Harry Lehotsky, who has spent years fighting drugs, crime and disrepair in Winnipeg’s West End neighbourhood, now has another struggle ahead of him, this one for his life.

Lehotsky was diagnosed Monday with pancreatic cancer, which has spread to his liver, spleen and other organs. He says his doctors have told him his cancer is inoperable and have given him six weeks to nine months to live.

“Oh, man, you think, ‘Why me?’ and then the next thing you think is, ‘Why not me? What makes me different from anybody else?’ There’s mothers and fathers, daughters and sons that die of cancer and so many other things. I mean, we’re all finite. So I think about that,” he told CBC News on Tuesday.

“If God chooses to do a miracle, that’d be awesome and I’d be very pleased and thankful. If not, what I’ve been living for my whole life is just the ability to meet Him one day and for Him to say, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.’”

I am reminded of William Wallace's prayer in Braveheart: "Give me the strength to die well." Or at least, give us all the strength to give such an answer to the media when asked about our own impending death!

Update

Here is the article from the Canadian Broadcasting Company (CBC).