It seems that everyone jumps on different bandwagons of one type of cause or another sometime in their life. It may be a civic cause, human cause, environmental cause, or animal cause. The list goes on and on.
I was watching Whale Wars the other night on T.V., and I was amazed at what dedication and sacrifice the people gave for the preservation of those whales. Sometimes I think how goofy it is to sit in a tree so that it won’t be cut down or live on ship to annoy the Japanese so that they will hopefully stop killing whales. I can think of hundreds of “more serious” problems to fight to solve.
But then my next thought is what if we didn’t have anybody to help with these causes that seem less significant? What if nobody cared about the trees or the whales?
I think that people’s different experiences lead them to their interests in different causes, and this is something to be grateful for.
I know that I have seen this in me with my experience with John. I have always been registered as an organ donor. I have never had any problem with giving my organs away when my life is over. However, I’ve never really thought of it much past that. I’ve never thought about there not being enough organs for everyone who needs them or the importance of organ donation.
I also never thought much about what people do if they don’t have insurance or money to pay for major, very expensive operations that are needed to save their lives. When we were in the hospital, the Financial Coordinator on the Transplant Team gave us information about how to raise money for John’s surgery. She explained that some people have to set up fundraisers to raise money for their transplants.
It wasn’t until these things affected me personally that I really felt inclined to help with organ donation, fundraising, and even possibly other people dealing with the effects of Cardiomyopathy in their lives. Before I didn’t have any reference point to care any more about it past just checking the “yes” box that I would be a donor. Now that my husband’s life is dependent on a heart donation, I want to shout from the streets, “Please become an organ donor!” or “Help someone who can’t afford one!” It makes me want to jump at the opportunity to support and help with this cause.
I’m not sure where this will lead me or how yet I can help in the future, but I am motivated to find out. It is a way to use the experience and new perspective that God has given me to bring Him glory.
Leave a Reply