Below is a daily reflection on giving blood. What do you think about what he has to say? I found it quite interesting and gives the whole process a new look for me...
Have a great day and don't forget to give blood if you are able...
Blood
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I gave blood today.
It was the first time in over 6 years and I had only donated once before. As I reflect on the day's event, I see spiritual truth and application in what appears to be a simple thing.
Christianity is symbolized by the cross. The blood of Jesus is the verbal wording and pictorial image of the sacrifice and salvation for Christians. If you are not Christian, bear with me, this will relate.
The symbol of the organization that collects blood to save lives is The Red Cross. I got a chance to stare at it while I was on the donating couch. It's not a Christian cross, it's a plus sign.
Most of the south is Christian by a large majority. Less than 5% of the eligible population donates blood. I saw interesting parallels in the blood donation today.
Most Christians don't truly donate of their blood in helping strangers. Blood is blood. Blood is money. Blood is effort.
In Christianity, it takes pure blood to save life and give salvation. At the Red Cross, you have a battery of questions to answer concerning past disease and sexual partners. You must consent to have your blood tested for AIDS and other diseases. If your blood isn't healthy or pure, you can't donate. If it doesn't test clean, they won't give it to anyone.
You sacrifice material resources.
They don't pay you for your blood and they don't reimburse you for transportation costs. You have to get to the donation center on your own. Real spiritual mission often means that you will sacrifice your material resources, not get rich.
You sacrifice time.
It took about an hour and a half. By the time you fill out the forms, answer the questions, have a mini-physical, have your blood drawn, and wait 15 minutes to get up, it takes an hour and a half. You will never get spiritual growth and reward without investing time.
It hurts.
No, it is not excruciating pain but you have to be stuck twice.
Once in the finger so they can determine whether you have enough hemoglobin in your blood. If you don't, you might faint. Once in the arm as they draw the blood. If it felt good, you wouldn't need a higher leading to do it. You would do it from the gratification of the flesh. So it is with spiritual things, it often hurts to change and make sacrifice.
There are risks.
Although donating blood is statistically very safe, there is a slight chance that something could go wrong.
Walk the narrow path and there are great risks.
If someone doesn't give, others will die.
All of the above are spiritual principles and each one you must endure to really help. Becoming unselfish and helping others is the basis for all spiritual disciplines.
If you ever want to meet a special breed of people, go to a Red Cross donation center. Don't go to the commercial centers where they pay you for your blood, go where the donors give their blood without pay.
There were five other people giving blood when I went.
There was a black woman in her 30's. Two white men in their mid 30's to 40's and two white women in their 50's or 60's. The attendant knew three of the donors by first name.
Evidently, they were regulars. All of them had a peace about them. For lack of a better word, they had a spirit of goodness.
The Southern Red Cross needs 1,200 units of blood a week.
This is the largest collection facility in Atlanta. There were a total of six people in the room.
If you ever want to see what a real giver looks like. Go to a Red Cross collection center. Think about it. What type of person takes their time, gas and automobile to give something that will go to someone that they don't even know? A giver, that's what type.
I felt an urge to go today for the second time in over six years. I decided to go every 56 days. That's the most you can donate. One pint every 56 days.
I always knew the need. I always knew that someone had to give the blood. I was always too busy and figured someone
else would do it.
Do you figure someone else will do it?
I don't necessarily mean donating blood. I mean the things that you see around you that you know need to be done. We are too busy and we figure "it will get done by someone else".
Maybe it's time to move to being a giver. Not just with your immediate family, but to someone that you don't even know.
Oddly enough, the Red Cross runs into critical shortages of blood during the first two weeks of January each year.
People don't give very much during the holidays.
It is an interesting thought, that in the very season of giving, giving the gift of life is at it's lowest.
It's three hours later and I actually feel better. Not just mentally, I physically feel better.
The shedding of blood was a medical practice from the 5th century to after the time of George Washington. Doctors believed that to lose some blood periodically kept you healthier. That is of course considered medical non-sense now but who knows what truth the ancients knew?
The red, white and blue barbers pole is from the practice of bloodletting. The red stood for blood, the blue for veins and the white for the bandage. You went to the barbershop to get a haircut and some blood let out. That blood however, went in the trash, not to save lives. They thought it improved their health and kept them from getting sick or if they were sick it made them well.
The old fashioned barbers even used leeches. Sound terrible doesn't it? Well, they are now using leeches in modern surgery. Like I said, who knows what truth the ancients knew.
Heart disease is our leading killer. Most of it results from the blood clotting because it's too thick. Maybe if we shed a little every now and then our own blood wouldn't be so thick. Women outlive men in every country on earth.
They shed blood every 28 days. 2 x 28 = 56
Just an interesting thought.
The Christian cross and The Red Cross are both plusses if you understand the math.
It's the type of math where when you subtract something from you,
...you add something to you.
~A MountainWings Original~
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MountainWings A MountainWings Moment
#1013 Wings Over The Mountains of Life
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