The celebration of life is particularly meaningful when the donors, living or deceased and /or their families are honoured publicly.
Recently I had the privilege of attending such a dinner celebration. As we entered the large room, there were two quotes among several that caught my attention as they were projected on the wall:
“The hero/heroine is one who kindles a great light in the world, who sets up blazing torches in the dark streets of life for men/women to see by.” (Felix Adler)
“You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.” (Kahlil Gibran)
Those of us in attendance were deeply moved to hear two recipients express their profound gratitude for having their lives back. For the families of donors to know that their loved one lives on is a source of tremendous consolation, despite the loss of their “hero” or “heroine”. As the pictures of the deceased donors were displayed on the power point, we were all drawn into a communal sense of the bond that united us all: we had a hero/heroine as a family member.
The generosity of living donors was/is an inspiration and as they came forward to receive their plaque of recognition, I was moved to ponder how ALL of us are called in some way to be donors, to be givers of LIFE in how we intentionally are present to those we encounter each day. How we can be signs and living witnesses that life truly is a gift to be shared with and on behalf of others is the vocation of each of us.
Even the word “gift” denotes that life is “on loan” and the quality of the lending period is a personal choice as to how this time is spent and how this gift is shared with others. We are all called to be heroes or heroines. We are all called to give of ourselves.
The question worth pondering each day might be: How have I been today a giver of life for someone else?
Kathleen Lichti, CSJ
http://www.johnbrockingtonfoundation.org/more-organ-donation?gclid=CLewqqXDzMgCFQ6maQodp1cHIg