that lead to death, so that we may
serve the living God!”
(Hebrews 9:14 NIV)
I was hooked up to a machine for apheresis (platelets
donation) at the local Red Cross center.
Not long before, I didn’t know what a platelet was, much
less that someone would want mine. Platelets are defined as “numerous small
disk-shaped bodies found in the blood of vertebrates and associated with clotting.”
Time crept at a snail’s pace. To scratch my nose or move my
arms was prohibited. I squeezed a bright-red, rubber ball every five seconds so
the blood could flow steadily from my left arm, into tubes of a machine, and
return into my right arm.
Tensed muscles left me completely exhausted. My body tingled
and shivered from the cold room and depleted calcium. After one grueling hour,
the nurse asked if I could remain on the machine another hour, donate a double
dose. “Your platelets are plentiful and healthy,” she added. I reluctantly
complied.
Afterward, in the recovery room, I reflected on the process
- to give life and hope to a medical patient whose blood could no longer
produce platelets. (Hopefully mine were flowing into someone else’s veins soon
after I left the center.)
The big picture, the spiritual analogy is richer. Isn’t that
what Christ does for us? His Spirit cleanses and strengthens us in discomfort, blessing
others through our temporary suffering. Will I allow Him to sift out the greed,
selfishness, pity-platelets in my blood today? Do I need to be “hooked up to
the machine” longer, give a double dose?
May our sacrifices give hope to the hurting as Christ’s
Spirit cleanses our hearts and purifies our lives.
I will submit to His purification process today. I hope you
will, too!
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