Giving Blood: The Most Basic Stewardship Statement
By The Reverend William Carl Thomas
Published in the May-June 2008 issue
of The Dayspring, news for and about the People of the Diocese of West Virginia
Father Bill serves a member of the Stewardship Commission of the Diocese of West Virginia, Click here to download a copy of this article in PDF format.
With the cost of gasoline at an all time high and the concept of going “green” high on the list of those concerned with the environment, many people are being coming sensitive to identifying renewable resources. The blood that flows through your body is one such renewable resource that, if shared regularly, is the most basic stewardship statement anyone can make.
Yes, giving blood is an act of stewardship. Especially when you accept the definition of stewardship as “the management of everything God has given you.” Perhaps you’ve heard the word stewardship used as a synonym for the fund-raising effort of the church every fall to get you to give some of your money. And, I’m sure that at one time or another you heard someone use the expression that “filling out their pledge card felt like giving blood.” If that expression is true, then filling out a pledge card should be relatively painless because the actual act of giving blood involves only a momentary sensation of “OH’” when the needle, yes the needle, is skillfully inserted into a well prepared vein.
When you commit to giving blood on a regular basis you truly do make the most basic stewardship statement anyone can make because:
When I gave blood last week, I was surprised when the attendant tallied my now full West Virginia donor card and told me that over the past five years I have given over three gallons of blood. Giving blood is something I know I can do and which I try to do about six times a year. As the steward of the body that God has given me, I am grateful that I able to give blood for the reasons noted in this brief article. If, for some reason, you think I sound highly altruistic in linking giving blood with stewardship, please let me give you one more very human reason why giving blood on a regular basis is part of my discipline. Every time I give a pint of blood I equate that with losing a pound. Maintaining my weight within a certain range is important to me and there are foods I do not usually eat except in the 24 to 48 hours after losing that pound. So, giving blood is also an excuse to have something that is both“off the diet” and very delicious as my body rebuilds. Saying thank you to God does have its rewards!
The following“Frequently Asked Questions” about giving blood are also posted at www.givelife2.org/donor/faq.asp#12:
Is donating blood safe?
Donating blood is a safe process. Needles and bags used to collect blood are used only once and then discarded, making spread of infection to the donor not possible.
Can I give if I have been turned down before?
Most reasons, for which donors are turned away from donating blood are temporary, not permanent. For example, one common reason for a deferral is low iron level in the blood, but iron levels fluctuate daily and are affected by what you eat. Call 1-800-GIVE LIFE to check the eligibility requirements to see if you may be eligible to donate. A "mini-physical" is given to all potential donors to ensure they are healthy enough to donate.
How often can one give blood?
Regulations in the United States allow people to donate whole blood once every 56 days. The waiting period between donations can be different for other blood components. For example, donating only platelets in a process called apheresis requires only a 3 day wait before a person can give again. Donating two units of red blood cells through a similar process doubles the waiting period to 112 days.
How do I know if I am eligible to donate blood?
You must be in good health, be at least 17 years old, and weigh at least 110 pounds. You will also need to pass physical and health history reviews prior to donating. There is no upper age limit on your ability to donate. Conditions that require a temporary deferral are pregnancy, travel to certain parts of the world, inoculations, some health conditions and certain medications. Call 1-800 GIVE LIFE to get answers to specific eligibility questions you may have. Eligibility requirements may also vary for some states and blood centers. Final eligibility is determined by medical professionals at the time of donation.
Are the health history questions and my test results confidential?
Yes. The health history will be conducted by a trained professional in an individual booth arranged to preserve confidentiality. Your answers will be kept confidential, except where required by law. If your blood tests positive to any of the administered standard tests, you will receive confidential notification. The Red Cross maintains strict confidentiality of all blood donor records.
What can I do if I am not eligible to donate?
While you may be unable to donate blood, there are other ways you can help. You can help organize a blood drive, recruit other suitable donors, or volunteer at fixed sites or mobile blood drives to help make donors' experience a positive one. Monetary donations are another way to help ensure that safe blood can be provided to those who are in need. Learn more about
How can I ensure a pleasant donation experience?
You'll want a good night's sleep the night before, and a good breakfast or lunch before your donation. Drink fluids like juice, milk, or soda ahead of time. Take your normal medications as prescribed. Ensure you have adequate iron level by making iron-rich foods part of your daily diet. These include red meat, poultry, fish, green leafy vegetables, iron-fortified cereals, nuts, raisins and prunes. During your donation, relax. After your donation, have some juice and cookies in the canteen. Then you can go about your daily activities, but avoid heavy lifting or strenuous exercise for the remainder of the day.
Should I give blood now or wait until I am called?
Under normal circumstances eligible donors are encouraged to donate as often as possible. Please call 1-800-GIVE LIFE or schedule an appointment online. During emergency circumstances please listen to media reports in your area and donate as requested.
How long does it take to donate blood?
The whole process takes about an hour. It starts with registration, a health history and a mini-physical. Then comes the actual donation, which usually takes less than 10-12 minutes. Afterward, you will be asked to spend a few minutes in the "canteen" where you can have a light refreshment before returning to your normal activities.
How much blood is taken — won't it make me weak?
A blood donation equals approximately one pint of blood. The average adult body has 10-12 pints. The vast majority of people will not feel any different because of the donation. A very small percentage may experience temporary dizziness, but some rest and fluids will help you feel better quickly. Your body will replace the lost fluid within 24 hours.
What will happen to my blood after I donate?
Each blood donation is assigned a unique computer barcode number, which will identify it throughout its path from the donor to a hospital patient. Immediately after the blood donation, the blood is placed in transport containers designed to keep it at a safe temperature until it reaches a Red Cross component laboratory. Samples of the blood donation are simultaneously sent to one of nine Red Cross National Testing Laboratories to be tested for transmissible diseases. In the component lab, the blood is separated into its components: red blood cells, platelets and plasma. The products are then placed in quarantined, temperature-controlled refrigeration units until the test results are received (usually 12-16 hours later) and the blood can be released for distribution or destroyed. From local distribution centers, the blood is transported to hospitals based on patient need. Hospital personnel then transfuse the blood or blood products to a patient in need.
Can I direct my blood donation to an individual?
Patients scheduled for surgery may be eligible to donate blood for themselves in the weeks before non-emergency surgery in a process known as autologous donation. If an autologous donation is not used, it is discarded. Family members and friends can also make directed donations. Directed donations are fully tested, so if they are not used by the intended patient, they can be released for use by other patients.
Can I direct my blood donation to the military?
The American Red Cross has created a strong operations network that helps us direct your blood donation to the areas of the country — or the world — where they are most needed. While you can't direct your donation to be specifically routed to military personnel, you can be sure that it will be sent to the areas of most critical need.
Musings from the Rector
By The Reverend William Carl Thomas
(January, 2007 issue of The Messenger)
As you read through this issue of The Messenger, I hope you are as impressed as I am by the quality and caliber of lay leadership we have at Saint Matthews. I would like to take a moment to comment on the vestry Class of 2004.
You are truly the servants in the parable of the talents who were given five talents and returned ten. Monika, John, Lisa, and Todd are most worthy to hear the words the master said to those servants, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.” I look forward to what they will, no doubt, continue to offer us as leaders who serve in the Name of Jesus Christ.
Musings from the Rector
By The Reverend William Carl Thomas
(December, 2006 issue of The Messenger)
One Advent Wreath liturgy uses the four collects for each week of Advent (Click here to find those collects within the Sundays of the Lectionary page). If you take a few moments to read them one after another, you’ll notice the emphasis on preparing for when Jesus will come again. The first three collects overtly remind us of our total need of God’s grace. The fourth collect acknowledges grace with the phrase “by your daily visitation.” Darkness, sin, and the need to purify our conscience are present as the reasons we need this grace. Taken out of the context of the period of preparation that is Advent, these collects could be depressing!
The preface for Advent that is included in Eucharistic Prayers “A” and “B” offers the necessary “Good News in Jesus Christ” reminder to our sinful desires that we might miss hearing in the Advent collects:
Because you sent your beloved Son to redeem us from sin and death, and to make us heirs in him of everlasting life; that when he shall come again in power and great triumph to judge the world, we may without shame or fear rejoice to behold his appearing.
I print this preface because we will not hear it during our 10:30 AM liturgy during Advent. The three Eucharistic Sundays will feature Eucharistic Prayer “D” which does not allow for a preface. This prayer is used by the Roman Catholic, Anglican (Episcopalian), and Orthodox churches. I think these words found with Prayer “D” also remind us of what we seek as we prepare for the coming of Christ:
When our disobedience took us far from you, you did not abandon us to the power of death. In your mercy you came to our help, so that in seeking you we might find you. Again and again you called us into covenant with you, and through the prophets you taught us to hope for salvation. Father, you loved the world so much that in the fullness of time you sent your only Son to be our Savior. Incarnate by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, he lived as one of us, yet without sin. To the poor he proclaimed the good news of salvation; to prisoners, freedom; to the sorrowful, joy. To fulfill your purpose he gave himself up to death; and, rising from the grave, destroyed death, and made the whole creation new.
I feel that praying a prayer that reminds us of our common ground is a strong way to remember that the best way to prepare for the coming of Christ is to never forget the presence of Christ in ourselves and others. In this manner “we may without shame or fear rejoice to behold his appearing.” And that, indeed, is the Good News in Jesus Christ reminder that grace brings to us.
The Joy of Being Connected
By The Reverend William Carl Thomas
(April, 2006 issue of The Messenger)
The lack of flashing lights on the cable modem in my home study explained why I was no longer able to access the internet. The data light struggled to blink and the cable light was blank. I was unprepared to be cut off from the world while in my home for a period of time that lasted 18 hours!
In today’s world, 18 hours can seem like an eternity especially when what I viewed as necessary within my routine was disrupted. Where would I find out about the weather for the day? (Okay, I could open the door and put my hand outside). What about an up-to-the minute look at the news and sports? (Yes, the newspaper was in the driveway). How long would I have to wait to find out what happened to the Patterson family in the comic strip “For Better or For Worse”? (Not published in my newspaper). Did the bank post my recent transactions properly? (As with the Pattersons, I could wait until I got to the office). And what about my email????? Being disconnected is very unsettling. I did not realize how comforting and easy my routine had become.
I hope your Lenten discipline, whether you took something on or gave something up, has been a time of deeper connection to God. It’s so easy to take something for granted when it’s always there (like the love of God). I knew the cable would eventually be reconnected and my world restored. And I know that Jesus rose from the dead, as he said he would, in three days. But what of those disciples of Jesus who had to wait three days in what surely felt like an eternity to be reconnected to God’s love? When we recall the events around the crucifixion of Jesus during Holy Week, we are connected with those who felt and witnessed those events and anyone who has felt disconnected or abandoned by God.
For the same reason we gave up saying Alleluia aloud during Lent, we offer opportunities to take on the events that led to Jesus’ death on the cross during Holy Week. Information about the Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday, Tenebrae, Maundy Thursday, The Nightwatch, Good Friday, The Stations of the Cross, and Holy Saturday is found within this issue of The Messenger and online at www.matthew1893.org. I hope you will change your routine during Holy Week and find your way to one or more of these events.
There was great joy in my house when my cable connection was restored. But nothing like the joy I feel when I again shout ALLELUIA on the Sunday of the Resurrection: Easter Day. When our combined voices shout ALLELUIA I know that God is present and I will never be abandoned for I am connected to the love of God in the Body of Christ. Please bring small bells with you to church on Easter. We’ll ring our bells every time we say Alleluia and rejoice because nothing we can do can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. And that’s the best connection of all!
Sermon for the Second Sunday of Lent
Written for March 11, 2001 and published in Worship That Works/Selected Sermons by The Episcopal Church
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/6087_6853_ENG_Print.html
By The Reverend William Carl Thomas
(Written while Rector of Saint Matthias Episcopal Church, Tuscaloosa, Alabama)
(Now serving as the Rector of Saint Matthews Episcopal Church, Charleston, West Virginia)
Second Sunday in Lent - Year C
Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18; Psalm 27 or 27:10-18; Philippians 3:17-4:1; Luke 13: (22-30) 31-35
What is an acceptable sacrifice to God? Do we really have to take the heifer three years old, the female goat three years old, and the ram three years old and cut them in two, laying each half over against the other, remembering not to cut the turtledove and the young pigeon? Is giving up chocolate for Lent an acceptable sacrifice? Is taking on the time commitment of a new ministry during Lent an acceptable sacrifice? Do we even need to offer an acceptable sacrifice in order to gain God's favor? Do we have any idea what an acceptable sacrifice might be?
Perhaps we must start with the word "sacrifice." Often that word seems harsh or gruesome. How "Old Testament" can the terrible idea of killing innocent animals appear to be in order to please God. Yet our simple "New Testament" Lenten practice of giving up something such as chocolate seems hardly worth it when compared to what Jesus Christ gave up when he died on the cross. Even taking on a new ministry in Lent means giving up, sacrificing time, for something else.
Does the word "sacrifice" need to be harsh or gruesome? In the Holy Eucharist we say "Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us; Therefore let us keep the feast." Is that a harsh or gruesome statement? Or is it one of celebration and joy?
If we come to understand, as the early Christians did, that the word "sacrifice" means "holy action" then we are released from "harsh and gruesome" into "celebration and joy." We are not stuck in Good Friday but move to the celebration and joy of the third day when Jesus rose from the dead. Sacrifice, then, is "doing what is holy."
It was a "holy action" in the first Passover by which the blood of a lamb protected the first born of the Jews preparing to escape the bondage of Pharaoh. Christ, by his blood shed on the cross, is our Passover, the "holy action" that offers us escape from a world where minds are set on earthly things such as comfort and success. If we do not recognize this "holy action" how can we keep the peace, a sharing of Shalom. If we ignore God's "holy action" in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we will miss out on the fullness of all that God has to offer, the deeper meaning of the word "shalom," when we cry out "let us keep the peace."
If sacrifice is a "holy action" that opens our eyes to "shalom," the fullness of all that God has to offer, what then, is an "acceptable sacrifice?" Is there an acceptable holy action we can perform that will gain for us God's favor? Or, are we called to be willing participants in the ongoing acceptable holy action, the ongoing acceptable sacrifice, that began with Jesus dying on the cross? Ongoing is the key word. Ongoing, as in continuing. God's favor is assured in Jesus Christ. The acceptable sacrifice, the acceptable holy action, is ongoing. We are invited to participate in this ongoing acceptable holy action, this ongoing acceptable sacrifice, with a sense of celebration and joy because we know that new life, resurrection, is the inevitable outcome. We know that the third day is shalom, the fullness of all that God has to offer. Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, assures us that we need do nothing to gain God's favor because we already have it.
But Lent is a period that reminds us there is something we can do in order to fully share the love found in the ongoing acceptable holy action, the ongoing acceptable sacrifice of Jesus Christ. One of the prefaces for the Eucharistic prayer offers guidance: "You bid your faithful people cleanse their hearts, and prepare with joy for the Paschal feast; that, fervent in prayer and in works of mercy, and renewed by your Word and Sacraments, they may come to the fullness of grace which you have prepared for those who love you."
A way to be fervent in prayer during Lent can be found in the Liturgy of Ash Wednesday that includes the words of Psalm 51, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." The right spirit is what lifts us to see things heavenly and not simply set our minds on earthly things. Remember, as Paul points out, earthly things promote their god as the belly which is empty, because all that is in that belly is the illusion of comfort and success. Our cry in Psalm 51 is to be delivered from such death because our faith tells us that "a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise."
The Litany of Penitence that follows Psalm 51 begins on page 267 in the Book of Common Prayer. Taking the words of this litany into our hearts is a way to repent and return to the Lord as we have promised in The Baptismal Covenant. These words help us re-enter the ongoing acceptable holy action, the ongoing acceptable sacrifice that began with Jesus dying on the cross. We cry, "Have mercy on us, Lord," when we accept that "We have not loved you with our whole heart, and mind, and strength. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We have not forgiven others, as we have been forgiven." We confess such faults as "Our intemperate love of worldly goods and comforts, and our dishonesty in daily life and work." We pray, "Accept our repentance, Lord, for the wrongs we have done: for our blindness to human need and suffering, and our indifference to injustice and cruelty." And we end the litany with hope by saying, "By the cross and passion of your Son our Lord, Bring us with all your saints to the joy of his resurrection." The complete Litany of Penitence is rich and full: a worthy companion to a lenten discipline that might include giving up chocolate or taking on the time commitment that a new ministry demands.
Perhaps the best way to more fully appreciate what it means to be part of the ongoing acceptable holy action, the ongoing acceptable sacrifice that began with Jesus dying on the cross, is to accept God's call found in these beautiful words from a collect for Morning Prayer, "Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for the honor of your Name."
The Spirit that we cry out to be clothed in is the same Spirit found in Psalm 51. The broken and contrite heart that is not despised by God is the heart that has been lured by the illusion promised in comfort and success that ends in an empty belly. When we reach out our hands in love, to bring those who do not know God to the knowledge and love of God, we are participating in the ongoing acceptable sacrifice that began with Jesus dying on the cross. When we participate in this ongoing acceptable holy action that delivers shalom, the fullness of all God has to offer, we prepare with joy for the Paschal Feast and all that it means in this life and the next.