On my driver’s license is a small red heart.
It is not there because of my driving record or because the state loves me: it is there because many years ago, I shared that if I died, I wanted to donate my organs and tissues to help other people. This was a decision I made because of my faith and shared with my family.
This past weekend was the National Donor Sabbath, where communities of faith shared information about the importance of organ, eye and tissue donation. The purpose is to “Educate the public about the need for the lifesaving and healing gifts passed to others through transplantation, while also encouraging people to register their decision to be organ, eye and tissue donors.”
Nearly all religions support organ and tissue donation and are not opposed to transplantation – as long as it does not harm the life or hasten the death of the donor.
The Abrahamic faiths – Judaism, Christianity and Islam – share the beliefs that organ and tissue donation is an act of charity, and preserving life is a goal to be held high. Emphasis is put on the decision of the individual and making wishes known to your family.
Jesus healed those who came to him. He healed their bodies and restored their sight. He taught about loving our neighbor and donating the gift of life and sight is neighborly love.
Pope John Paul II wrote, “Every organ transplant has its source in a decision of great ethical value … Here lies the nobility of a gesture which is a genuine act of love. There is a need to instill in people’s hearts a genuine and deep love that can find expression in the decision to become an organ donor.”
Buddhists believe organ and tissue donation is a matter of personal conscience and circumstances. They believe strongly in acts of passion and charity. Hinduism does not have any laws prohibiting organ donation. They lift up the possibility such donations made willingly could alleviate human suffering.
Religious beliefs differ, but there is a common thread when it comes to organ/tissue donation: individual decision, healing, charity, love of neighbors and stopping suffering.
While the details are lost to me, I read about a father whose young daughter was in kidney failure and needed a kidney quickly to survive.
The good news was he was a perfect match; the bad news was he was over 100 pounds overweight and the doctor’s said he was not a good candidate for surgery. He loved fried chicken (every preacher’s weakness). He cut out the fried chicken, sugar and started walking.
It was hard, but he lost the weight, the surgery was successful and his daughter lived and flourished.
This guy is my hero.
For more information about giving the gift of life and sight, go to donatelifenc.org or call (919) 964-3562. Please let your family know your wishes.
For Gentry – who made us all smile – and Brian, who gave the gift of sight.
Eric Reece is the faith columnist for The Graham Star. He is pastor of Robbinsville United Methodist Church and can be reached via email, ereece@wnccumc.net.