Giving Life

"Freely ye have received, freely give." There is a specific context to these words, but what Jesus said has a broader meaning to me. Sometimes we are up, sometimes we are down. In other words, "Sometimes we have to give, and sometimes we are in need of a gift. But giving is not only a Christian thing to do, it's a human thing to do.

When the subject of giving comes up, our first thought is usually money. The American way to solve a problem is usually to throw money at it. And sometimes that is what is most needed, and so is the appropriate thing to do. Sometimes, however, money cannot buy what is really needed.

This is never more true than when it comes to giving blood.

Here are some facts about blood, and donating blood:

1. Anyone in good health, at least 17 years of age, and at least 110 pounds may donate whole blood every 56 days.
   

2. 4.5 million American lives are saved each year by blood transfusion.
   

3. Someone needs blood every 3 seconds.
   

4. One out of ten hospital patients needs blood.
   

5. Three lives are saved by one pint of donated blood.
   

6. You cannot get AIDS or any other infectious disease by donating blood.
   

7. 60% of the U.S. population is eligible to give blood - only 5% do.
   

8. There is no substitute for human blood.
   

The older I get the more outspoken I become on donating blood, and I believe I have good reason for being so.

The place where I give blood (Carter Blood Care) hands out T-shirts and other items with phrases on them encouraging blood donation. A mouse pad I got from them says, "Give Blood. Save Lives. It's that simple, that important." That's what it's about. Giving something you can sacrifice, to someone who needs it to live. But, for me, it goes much deeper than that.

In Leviticus 17:11, it says "For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul." Ponder that for a moment. Our life is in our blood. And blood given sacrificially is for atonement for the soul. Am I reaching?

Then consider what Jesus said in John 15:13: "Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." Isn't this what a person does when he gives blood (life)? Okay, it's true that when I give blood I don't fear for my life. However, as I watch my own blood pour out of my body for another human being, I always get a glimpse of Jesus Christ on the cross pouring out his blood for all mankind. This is one moment I feel very close to my Saviour.

Perhaps, I'm making more of this than I should. Believe me, I don't put myself on the same plane as those who have died while being persecuted for their faith, nor with those who die trying to save another person's life. But until I am called to do something like that, giving blood is one thing I can do that I believe Jesus would have us to do.

So, what about you? Are you giving blood? There are some circumstances that exclude people from giving blood, but remember, 60% of the population can give, but only 5% do. And even if you can’t donate your blood, there are other things you can do to encourage others to donate. For instance, you could organize a blood drive where you work.

When you donate blood, the attendant, when ready to insert the needle, will say something like, “Now you’re going to feel a stick and a sting.” I know a lot of people have an aversion to needles, and blanch at this point. Keep in mind, however, that someone needs your blood to live. Isn’t it worth overcoming the fear and discomfort for something so important? Besides, would you refuse the needle insertion if you were the one receiving the transfusion?

Perhaps you have had a bad experience while donating blood. Unfortunately it doesn’t always go well. In 33 years of donating blood, I have only had 2 experiences that were bad enough to even remember. But after such an experience, it is harder to donate again. All I can say is, “If a horse throws you, you need to get right back on.”

Besides the good feeling you will have after doing such a noble deed, there are physical benefits to giving blood. Before donating, you receive a “mini-physical” where they take your blood pressure, heart rate, temperature, and iron level. Also, your bone marrow is constantly replenishing your circulatory system with red blood cells, which live about 120 days in your system. Donating blood stimulates this process, and helps to keep it in good working order.

One other benefit to donating, is that you can build credit at the blood bank for you and your family members which can be exchanged for blood should you ever need to have a transfusion.

Even after reading this article, I know many of you will never donate blood. If you make this choice, I only ask that you find another way to give. Give of yourself, something that costs you. Something that makes you feel a “stick and a sting”. Someday you’ll need someone to do that for you.

War is Still Hell

The quote, “War is hell!” is attributed to General William Tecumseh Sherman while addressing the graduating class of the Michigan Military Academy. The text below contains this famous quote in context:

I’ve been where you are now and I know just how you feel. It’s entirely natural that there should beat in the breast of every one of you a hope and desire that some day you can use the skill you have acquired here. Suppress it! You don’t know the horrible aspects of war. I’ve been through two wars and I know. I’ve seen cities and homes in ashes. I’ve seen thousands of men lying on the ground, their dead faces looking up at the skies. I tell you, war is Hell!

As our soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan can attest, this statement is still true today.

It appears to me that Gen. Sherman was attempting to warn the cadets that what they've were told about defending their country was less than true. The notion that soldiers are joining a noble cause, are performing their duty, will be remembered with the heroes throughout history who have fought and perhaps given their lives for freedom, is, in reality, a lie.

Perhaps what I've just stated has raised the hackles of some of you, and so, before I continue, I want to assure all of you that this is not a rant against the government, the military, or patriotism. Give me a chance to explain myself.

My initial point is that if recruiters were as honest about war as Gen. Sherman, it would be more difficult than it already is to fill the ranks with young men and women who are willing to “take that hill” when directed to do so by a commanding officer. What happens instead, is that recruiters, in order to meet their quotas, tell recruits, in addition to twisting their patriotic arms, that the government will reward their bravery with a free education, and continued care for those injured in the fighting. I'm not willing to go so far as to say that all recruiters are liars, but the truth is that the military cannot deliver on their promises.

Because of the “advances” we have made in war technology, we are able to fight better, without nearly as many casualties. The press likes to remind us of the carnage of war by keeping us updated on the Iraq Coalition Forces losses (currently over 4000). In Sherman's war (the U.S. Civil War) it is estimated that 620,000 soldiers died. The result, however, is that soldiers that previously would have died from the wounds inflicted, are now disabled and needing medical care for the remainder of their lives. These wounded are overwhelming the system, and our “heroes” are having to defend their right to the services they were assured would be theirs. If a soldier fails to take the initiative, they are ignored.

This doesn't even take into account the servicemen and women who will live the rest of their lives with the psychological damage done from the horrors they have experienced and witnessed. Many of these will never recover. I wonder if it's even possible to prepare for, or treat the results of what Sherman called “hell”.

So what am I saying? “War is bad. We need to end the war.”? Yes. But not how you think.

Another quote attributed to Sherman:

You cannot qualify war in harsher terms than I will. War is cruelty, and you cannot refine it; ... I know I had no hand in making this war, and I know I will make more sacrifices to-day than any of you to secure peace. But you cannot have peace and a division of our country. If the United States submits to a division now, it will not stop, but will go on until we reap the fate of Mexico, which is eternal war. The United States does and must assert its authority, wherever it once had power; for, if it relaxes one bit to pressure, it is gone, and I believe that such is the national feeling.

I'm not suggesting that war is right and good, and neither is Sherman. What he is saying is that there is no way to fight a “nice” war. If you choose to fight, the only right way to do it is to use all of the resources available to you to end the war as quickly as possible by overcoming your foe. And where an army does this to administer justice and rid the world of tyranny, I believe they do it as ministers of God.

For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. (Romans 13:3-4)

For this reason, I believe we do owe a debt of gratitude and a measure of honor to those returning from the fighting. Even if you disagree with the decision to go to war, you should be able to appreciate the courage required to risk your own life for the sake of another. Isn't there an identification with our Saviour in this?

I believe we are loathe to do this, however, because our soldiers and their accompanying disabilities are a reminder to us of our inability to live peaceably with each other, and of the ugliness of our actions.

For those of you who have chosen “the way of peace”, and have refused to go to war, consider at least that because there are many who are willing to volunteer, you (or your sons and daughters) don't need the courage to say, “No.” to war, you merely need to avoid saying, “Yes.”

And if you believe, because of your piety, you are better than those who use physical force to get their way, consider how many spiritual lives have been lost because those who profess to follow “The Prince of Peace” fail to live in peace.

From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. (James 4:1-3)

The writer of these words knew that physical wars are just the outworking of the war going on in our hearts. The seed of war is the desire to have what is not ours, and the willingness to obtain it at the expense of others.

Refraining from fighting does nothing to obtain peace. Peace requires action. It requires loving your enemies, returning good for evil, offering the other cheek, going the extra mile. It requires giving, when it was yours to take.

It’s war in the heart that will condemn the bearer to hell. This is the true meaning of, “War is Hell”.

Visiting Patrick

Because of some business that I needed to transact in person in Kentucky, I took the opportunity to visit Patrick and Andrea. It was a quick decision to go, but I’m blessed to have a job that allows me to work anywhere I have an Internet connection, and co-workers who coordinate the finer details for me while I’m gone.

I left Monday evening, and, after spending the night in West Memphis, arrived late Tuesday morning.

I had made arrangements to meet with Patrick’s case manager that afternoon, and Patrick and I met with Lt. Miller around 3 o’clock. We found out that they had managed to get him an impromptu appointment with his primary care provider, Miss Mapps, as well. This was a real bonus, because it didn’t look like he was going to get to see her until April 17th, and since she is the one responsible for directing his treatment, it was advantageous to see her as soon as possible.

So Patrick, Lt. Miller, Lt. Col. Garber (Patrick’s physical therapist), Miss Mapps and I had a lengthy discussion about Patrick’s medical condition and treatment. It was good to meet the people who are trying to help him, and have the opportunity to ask them questions.

In a nutshell, the diagnosis (in addition to physical injuries he suffered to his back, neck and ankle in Iraq) is post traumatic stress, and not TBI (Traumatic brain injury). They are also treating him for a possible seizure disorder, which they believe are responsible for his blackouts. They are working on the assumption that these may be caused by migraine headaches.

The plan at this point is to try to get him transferred to Ft. Hood (near Austin, TX) and start his medical discharge from there. The feeling is that the medical discharge process is so involved, that once it is started, a transfer would be unlikely.

If his transfer to Ft. Hood goes through, he will be stationed only an hour and a half away from home, and would be able to come home on weekends. Since we feel the best treatment for Patrick is to be with family, we’re excited about this possibility.

Besides the time spent working from the motel room, I was able to spend time with Patrick during the day, and with both he and Andrea Wednesday and Thursday nights. The time was so short, but we enjoyed our time together. I’m looking forward to having Andrea home again after this school term, too.

Friday I went to Patrick’s physical therapy appointment with him in the morning, and after “lunch” at Starbuck’s and a short time at the gym, I said goodbye and ht the road for home. I drove through the night, napping several times, and arrived at 10:30 Saturday morning. I’m still recovering, but I’m glad I went. I feel better now that I know the people helping Patrick personally, and have their permission to contact them in the future.

Garden of the Gods

I used to live in Colorado Springs, so, since I was in Colorado for my Dad’s surgery, I went back to look around. I had forgotten how much I liked the place. Cold, clear, dry, mountain air, the Rockies rising up to the West. My kind of terrain. We toured Garden of the Gods in the early morning. What a place to worship God!

Lauren and I were traveling together, and hiked several trails through this natural paradise. It really brought back memories, too. I was stationed at Peterson Air Force Base when we were first married, and Andrea was born at the Air Force Academy. We lived here for 3 years, before moving to California. It was good to go back.