Give Me Your Blood

I recently found myself attending school in West Palm, which is a whole blog story in and of itself, but in order for this to make sense, I just need to get that little bit of information out of the way.

Anyway... classes started about three weeks ago. It's been an easier transition than I thought it would be, but occasionally I have those, "huh... didn't expect that one" moments.

For instance...

Yesterday and today, a bloodmobile has been parked right outside the cafeteria. You can tell these people have it figured out. Pretty much everyone has to walk by at some point or another, whether to get to class or to eat. They have volunteers holding signs, and even very bold volunteers that ask you point blank if you'd like to give blood. I've never given blood.

There I said it.

Normally I've found these people pretty easy to avoid. I know that sounds terrible, but I have never had a really good excuse to not give blood. I just never wanted to. But does anybody?

Here and there I've passed by a class mate with the blue bandage on their elbow. You know what? Good for them! It must be very difficult to convince a bunch of college students to kiss some of their hemoglobin goodbye.

In fact, I'm starting to notice how hard it is. Especially since I've been one of the stubborn ones who has never given blood. There, I said it again. Pretty much every main bulletin board around campus has an entry for this special event. They even have a DJ out there who, by the time this is over, will have been out there for a total of 24 hours, basically begging students to step inside the van. I'm wondering when they'll just victimize an innocent bystander and shove him in.

They practically bribe the students..."Free pizza, free t-shirt, one community service hour, AND enter into a drawing for movie tickets!" Not a bad deal, actually. So why is it so difficult?

I don't know how many times (a lot, though) that when talking with a girlfriend and this subject comes up, she says "I can't . I just can't." Usually it's the whole needle thing. "Just can't do needles." Or she can't bear the sight of blood. Or she will most definitely faint. Whatever way, she can't.

I don't particularly like needles. They do hurt. But I know what hurts even more...

A little over a year ago, a close friend of mine underwent a traumatic life-threatening experience; blood, or lack there of, being the main concern. Her experience brought our entire church to our knees, lifting her up in prayer and holding our breath to see if she would survive. By the grace of God, she is alive and well today, and I believe that it is in large part to those who were brave enough to step inside those bloodmobiles. It all happened so fast, but because people were willing, blood transfusions were ready and accessible.

All of that to say, while it's almost humorous what people go through to get others to donate blood and the excuses that some people come up with to avoid the slight pinch (myself included), it is a very serious situation, and I have great respect for those who volunteer both their time and their blood to literally save other people's lives. Perhaps one day I will be that brave. After all, a very special Person's blood was given to save my life.

Boy, am I hungry!

Happy new year! It's currently 10:43... I woke up about 45 minutes ago, and decided that I should start Jan 1st, 2011 off having my quiet time first. I had been doing this study called "Setting Captives Free" which is an online Bible study about... food. Well, not about food exactly, but about feasting at the Lord' Table, feasting from God's Word, and not living in the sin of over eating physical food. Yes, I said sin. (Replacing our ultimate satisfaction of Christ with food that doesn't satisfy, so we just keep eating more)

While doing the study this morning, I got really hungry. Physically hungry. I'm usually not much a breakfast person, but today I am hungry. It's probably because I ate a lot of sugar last night waiting for midnight to roll around. Have you ever noticed that about sugar? You eat a lot of it, and then it like, makes you hungry. I have no idea how the science of all that works, but I know that it's a perfect metaphor for how we live our lives.

Day after day, we feast ourselves on what the world has to offer. It looks good, it tastes good, it feels good, and then hours later we are hungry for more. I know this may be obvious to many people, maybe even cliche, but this is what's been going on. When at the same time, God's Word (ultimate satisfaction... remember "never thirst again") is right in our reach--however, we reach past it for dissatisfaction and death.

I'll be honest and say that the last bit of time in my life, I've been "satisfied." That is, enjoying a masked satisfaction. I've enjoyed certain luxuries and have said no to my conscience enough, to live comfortably, and I thought it felt good. But it doesn't. It's miserable. I've been starving myself of something that's good for me--ultimately the best for me. It's wearing me thin. As I was doing the study this morning and starting feeling physically hungry, I was reminded how spiritually hungry I've been and how much I've been depriving myself of the food that satisfies. Oh, God, how patient you are with me! What have I been doing?

It's an odd concept, but I'm hungry--make that starving-- to do things that make me uncomfortable, things that I actually have to work toward (i.e. having my quiet time DAILY, memorizing Scripture, praying more than just at meal times, obeying those promptings in my conscience, taking on hard challenges).

Sometimes striving after God feels like a one way conversation and it can be hard to listen for His voice. Sometimes it seems like He's not saying anything. However, His Words (which He is speaking) are so. much. more. satisfying than what the world has to offer. I consider this lesson learned, now, in my own life.

God, help me to continue to hunger for You. Satisfy all my desires with Yourself.