Benjamin Cummings: God is in the Trenches with Us

This episode of the Grief and Belief podcast features hosts David Mickelson and Kori Andrews interviewing their friend, Ben Cummings, a university professor. Ben shares the profoundly difficult yet ultimately hopeful story of his daughter, Eleanor, who passed away from a rare form of leukemia (Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia, or APML) at the age of about three and a half. Eleanor is lovingly remembered as a "firecracker" and a bundle of energy who loved "all things pink and purple," possessing a magical belief that she could fly with her fairy wings.

The central theme Ben explores is the hopeful principle that God is in the trenches with us during times of profound grief and challenge. Ben recounts the devastating onset of her illness, beginning with stroke-like symptoms that quickly worsened, leading to catastrophic strokes and brain swelling. The most agonizing decision came when he and his wife wrestled with when to remove Eleanor's life-sustaining support. They sought divine guidance, learning to trust not only God's will but also that "thy timing be done," eventually receiving an "overwhelming sense of peace".

Ben explains that this trial taught him a deeper level of love and compassion. He highlights "tender mercies" they received, including a nurse named "Hope" and unexpected support from neighbors and co-workers of diverse faith traditions. Ben concludes by offering a powerful testimony of the resurrection. He notes that his two youngest sons, Peter and John, were both born on Easter, serving as personal "witnesses of the resurrection," reinforcing his conviction that hope in Christ "saves".

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