I was a little hesitant to share this with the masses and here on my blog. I did this blog with the intention of it being Africacentric...but I suppose it is kind of for my faith journey as well. And this is a part of it. So.
I am donating a kidney on Tuesday.
It is for a lady I don't know. Found out about it through a prayer request email. Kidney donation is something I had read and thought about it the past. So when this opportunity presented itself I figured I would at least start the process and see what happens. It has taken me to this point, I have talked at length to the doctors, and though there are some risks, I feel comfortable enough with them, as do they, that this will not affect my life over in Africa.
Still, I am well aware that for my life this is not what one would classify as a wise decision.
Here is my reasoning. Or at least the thought process that brought me here. I am a pretty big believer that if we make ourselves available to God He will use us. Throughout all the testing it was my prayer that if this was not something God wanted to happen that the door would close. I made myself available for this, and I am lucky that I am healthy enough that this is a gift I can give. Christ gave without reservation. He is my guide and my source. And really, if there is a need and one has the means to meet that need, why wouldn't you do it?
Because I am so young even the doctors can't solidly predict how this will affect the rest of my life. As long I abstain from certain things and take a couple extra precautions, I should have no problems. No one knows this for sure. Some friends have brought up what if I have a child that needs a kidney someday or another family member. There are a thousand reasons not to. But I never want to live my life not giving now because of what may happen down the road. And I certainly do not want to live my life putting myself first.
Some people are not crazy about this. Most actually. I understand that. I would feel the same way if I had a friend giving away an organ and moving to Africa 3 months later. But it has always been my prayer to live a life of faith. For my life to not make sense apart from Christ. To be used of God and His love to flow out of me.
Doesn't it all boil down to loving God with my whole heart and my neighbor as myself? I would give Christ a kidney. This lady is my neighbor. Why wouldn't I do this for her; for Christ? It makes sense to me.
"If we've only got one try
If we've only got one life
If time was never on our side
Then before I die
I want to burn out bright"
Burn Out Bright-Switchfoot.
