How do we deal with the ongoing terror and attendant inhumane brutality humankind is dealing with day after day?

Where do we find the words, the offering of help, the benevolence to reach those suffering such tragedies?

We have struggled so often lately and it seems to be escalating. Then something happened for me that translated into my desire to offer a modest way to of reaching out to those traumatized.

Some time back I found my way in the early morning to the Ripley (Tenn.) High School gymnasium. I arrived early and found the Lifeblood/Mid-South team setting up for a day of ministering to donors.

My initial impetus for being there was to reach a goal. I lacked one pint to reach eight gallons. That was spread over decades of giving.

I was handled kindly and professionally and was soon in the reclining apparatus with everything in place. The process I chose was called double red cells. They remove the red cells and return the blood.

The process takes extra time so I was there about an hour.

As I lay there I began to watch as other donors came in. It was overwhelming. So many kids from the high school came in great numbers. All ages, colors, sizes and spirits. One youngster was placed beside me and we chatted a little. He was so upbeat.

Then I realized the room had filled with a veritable cross-section of men and women. There was a buzz, the space had an aura. Our spirits were joined.

Then it struck me like a beam of light. This was an answer. We were all giving selflessly and willingly and joyfully of our blood to help another. We would never know to whom our donation would travel. We could have given to each other.

Then another revelation. Could any of my earlier donations have found their way to Parkland school or Sandy Hook? Or to where my daughter-in-law is chief nurse midwife at a hospital in California? She spoke of often having to give blood to save a mother’s life in a dangerous delivery.

So, these words are to encourage those out there yearning to help and willing to give. And it is OK to give and receive.

Dolph Smith is retired professor emeritus at Memphis College of Art.


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