“There are no maverick molecules in the universe.”
Those are the words former Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) tearfully spoke to CBS News host Scott Pelley on an emotional episode of “60 Minutes.”
Although Sasse is known for his status as a “senator,” he made it clear early in our conversation that his accomplishments on Capitol Hill pale in comparison to his other titles: husband of more than 30 years, father of three, neighbor, and friend.
The 54-year-old Nebraska native told Perry that his December diagnosis with five types of cancer, primarily his battle with terminal pancreatic cancer, revealed his life’s most important work in an obvious way. It was a “bit of a blessing,” he says.
Perry asked Sasse, a converted Christian, why he believed “God is testing you.”
“Death is evil, death is evil, death is not what it’s supposed to be,” Sasse said. “And for me to get a cancer diagnosis, again, it’s just a small thing in the grand scheme of things. But it’s a little blessing because it forces me to tell the truth. And the lie I want to tell myself is that I’m the center of everything and that I’ll be around forever and work harder and save enough money so I can make amends for my hurt.”
She added, “I hate cancer, but I’m grateful for it. I’m much more truthful to myself now than when I thought I was omnipotent and funny.”
Sasse also told Perry that his battle with such an aggressive form of cancer – an illness so painful that he repeatedly tried to burn his back in the shower to relieve the throbbing pain of a tumor compressing his spine – had “definitely” brought him closer to God in a way that was irreversible.
“I was able to recognize my dependence on (God) in a new way,” he said.
Perry made it clear that he did not compare their positions in life, but said he remembers the moment he thought his death was certain at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. At that moment, the anchor said all he could think about was not wanting to leave his family behind.
He then asked the former lawmaker how he would come to terms with that feeling in the face of his own death.
“I am incredibly blessed,” Sasse began. “My wife, Melissa, we’ve been married for 31 years. … We’re going to be separated for a while, but she’s tough and gritty and theologically grounded, so we’ll be fine. My daughters are 24 and 22, and they’re special. When they get married, I’d love to walk them down the aisle. That’s not likely. That’s not what my timecard does.”
Mr. Sass then began talking about his 14-year-old son’s “surprise.”
“He’ll be fine,” Sas said with a smile, his voice shaking. “He’ll have other wise men and wise women who will put a hand on his shoulder. But at the ages of 16, 18, and 20 in his life, I’m so disappointed that I’m not there. I want to give him more advice than I could ever want, and I want to put my arm on his shoulder. And I want his shoulders to be higher. But that’s not surprising to God.”
At another point in the interview, Perry asked Sasse if he would do anything different with his life if he had the chance to try again.
Sasse said right away that she wished she had more children, more time at home and fewer nights alone in hotel rooms.
But in the end, the CBS News host said, somewhat dubiously, “God, I believe you have a plan.”
“That’s right,” Sasse answered confidently. “There are no maverick molecules in the universe.”
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