Voluntary Participation

"OK, Dr. Duh.  Looks like that's it for the questionnaire.  You seem to be a good candidate.  The next step will be for you to get the necessary blood tests..."

I listened quietly to the voice of a young woman on the phone.  I may be a doctor, but that doesn't make me enjoy the thought of having needles stuck in my arm any more than most people.

"The test results will take several days, but if you turn out to have a serious infection, we will notify you as soon as we receive a positive test result.  After you clear this phase, we will contact you about the two options that I mentioned earlier..."

Neither of the options that she mentioned sounds like much fun.  For the first option, I will need to get an injection every day for 5 days, which will make me feel ill as if I have influenza, and then I will have to sit for 4 to 6 hours while a machine sucks blood out of one arm and puts it back in the other.  The second option involves me being put under anesthesia while someone sticks a thick needle into my bone to suck out a bunch of stuff, and I was reassured that most people manage to make it back to work after several days.

"Dr. Duh, do you have any questions?"

"No.  Thank you."  Actually, I was sort of wondering how I got myself into this in the first place.

"Great.  I will send a consent form to you by e-mail.  Make sure you read it through, sign it and return to me...and please remember that your participation is purely voluntary.  If at any point you wish to withdraw from this process, please let me know immediately so we can look for other potential matches."

The phone call was from the National Marrow Donor Program.  I gave two blood samples at a church bone marrow drive 20 years ago in response to an urgent plea from the family of a dying young Asian woman with cancer who needed a bone marrow transplant.  The person on the phone informed me that my marrow may have finally met its match in an older man with acute myelogenous leukemia, and that it may potentially save his life.  Unfortunately, donating one's marrow involves some inconveniences, and not a little discomfort.  Needles, medications, more needles, and maybe a couple of holes in my hips.  I was reminded that I don't have to do it, and if I refuse, no one would know, as all records are confidential for my protection.

What am I to do?  For possibly saving someone's life, I guess a few holes in my body is worth it.  Needles...ugh!

Nevertheless, anticipating a bit of discomfort is nothing compared to the earthly experience of our Lord Jesus, who knew from the beginning that he came to do the Father's will:

And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given to me, but raise it up on the last day.  (John 6:39)

Jesus came to save every single soul that the Father has given to him, and he knew well that it was not going to be an easy task:

And he strictly charged and commanded them to tell this to no one, saying, "The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised."  (Luke 9:21-22)

Anticipation of what was to come caused Jesus unspeakable anguish.  He would have to give up himself voluntarily in obedience to the Father's will:

"Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me.  Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done."  (Luke 22:42)

And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.  (Luke 22:44)

As I shared news of the phone call with one of our pharmacists, she told me that it's wonderful that I get to save someone's life, and that she also participated in the program and was hoping to get a call some day.

Bring it on.

...but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  (Romans 5:8)