Professor Bainbridge...on law, politics, religion, culture & food

Stuntz Update

I was in law school a year behind Harvard law professor Bill Stuntz, worked under him on the Law Review, and have been privileged to count him as a friend for many years. I have thus been following his posts on his cancer treatment with affection and concern. Sadly, Bill reports bad news in the latest post:

My cancer has been promoted: I’m officially in stage 4. My doctors have found two cancerous nodules—a euphemism for “small tumors”—one on each of my lungs. I started chemo this week. Next week, I’ll see a thoracic surgeon who will, sometime this summer, cut those tumors out. Needless to say, this isn’t good news—though, thanks to medical advances (especially, thanks to those evil drug companies that politicians regularly attack), it isn’t disastrous news either. We’ll see what the future brings.

Predictably, and I say that as praise, Bill uses the opportunity for a meditation on faith and suffering:

This is one of the biggest reasons I believe my faith is true: something deep within us expects, even demands moral order—in a world that shouts from the rooftops that no such order exists. Any good metaphysical theory must explain both of those phenomena: both the expectation and the lack of supporting evidence for the thing expected. The only persuasive way to get there, I think, is to begin with a world made good that was twisted, corrupted, bent. Buried deep in our hearts are hints of the way things ought to be; the ugliest reality can’t snuff them out. Still, that reality exists; it can’t be denied. Christianity sees that reality, recognizes it for what it is—but also sees the expectation, and recognizes where it comes from.

Those who know Bill need to send him some love right now:

I do need to know some things. Three, to be precise: first, that I’m not alone; second, that my disease has not made me ugly to those I love and to the God who made me; and third, that somehow, something good can come from this.

Even if you don’t share Bill’s faith, try saying a little prayer for him. It can’t hurt you and it might help him. As for my fellow Catholics, the prayer to St Peregrine seems appropriate: Almighty and eternal God, healer of those who trust in you, through the intercession of St. Peregrine, hear my prayer for Bill. In your tender mercy, restore him to bodily health that he may give you thanks, praise your name, and proclaim your wondrous love to all. I ask this through Christ your Son, our Lord. ~Amen~

And let us not forget Bill’s family in this time of stress and sorrow:  Compassionate and loving God, among your many gifts, one most cherished is the love of family. I ask, now, that you be particularly mindful of Bill’s family; hold each of them in your loving hands and care for them.  Give them courage and patience, hope and optimism; relieve their fears and anxieties. During this difficult time, let your love sustain them, and their love for one another be a support and consolation. ~Amen~