<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Actor James Van Der Beek shared a video message with his fans on his 48th birthday, reflecting on how battling cancer recently has altered his perspective on life.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The star of the teen television drama “Dawson’s Creek,” which aired on The WB from 1998 to 2003, announced he&#8217;d been diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer in 2024. He has been vague about his treatment, in December saying he was in the &#8220;recovery phase.&#8221; Van Der Beek said in the clip that this challenge has made him confront some major existential questions.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">&#8220;I could define myself as a loving, capable, strong, supportive husband, father, provider, steward of the land that we&#8217;re so lucky to live on,&#8221; he said. &#8220;And for a long time, that felt like a really good definition of the question, &#8216;Who am I? What am I?'&#8221;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">&#8220;And then this year, I had to look my own mortality in the eye,&#8221; Van Der Beek continued. &#8220;I had to come nose to nose with death. And all of those definitions that I cared so deeply about were stripped from me. I was away for treatment, so I could no longer be a husband who is helpful to my wife.” </span></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He said, “I could no longer be a father who could pick up his kids and put them to bed and be there for them. I could not be a provider because I wasn&#8217;t working. I couldn&#8217;t even be a steward of the land because at times I was too weak to prune all the trees during the window that you&#8217;re supposed to prune them.&#8221;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The celebrity found himself asking the question: &#8220;If I am just a too-skinny, weak guy, alone in an apartment, with cancer, what am I?&#8221;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“So often we define ourselves by our roles in life or by what we do, but what if those things change? Who are we when it&#8217;s just us, alone, with nothing external to anchor us to a particular identity? And I meditated and the answer came through,&#8221; Van Der Beek went on. &#8220;I am worthy of God&#8217;s love, simply because I exist. And if I&#8217;m worthy of God&#8217;s love, shouldn&#8217;t I also be worthy of my own? And the same is true for you.&#8221;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The actor shares six children with his wife, Kimberly. She also celebrated her husband’s birthday on social media earlier this week, sharing a photo carousel alongside the caption, &#8220;Happy Birthday @vanderjames. May our hearts continue to dance together for many many many many more more birthdays. You are a treasure. I feel like the luckiest lady in the world to be married to you.&#8221;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">She continued, &#8220;May this year bring you so much laughter, dancing, deepening connection with God, exceptional health and exquisite beauty all around &#8211; plus of course &#8211; family snuggles, sunrises, sunsets, play and restorative rest.&#8221;</span></p>

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‘Dawson’s Creek’ Star Reflects On Cancer Battle: ‘I Am Worthy Of God’s Love’

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‘Dawson’s Creek’ Star Reflects On Cancer Battle: ‘I Am Worthy Of God’s Love’