A column about history, culture, policy, and things in between.
Last Sunday morning my wife and I were surprised by a phone call at 6 AM. The caller ID told us it was her brother, and Barb was instantly scared into full consciousness by the thought that it might be news of her father’s passing.
On the contrary; it was good news. Her brother Jim was calling to say he was on his way to the hospital, driving through a western Michigan blizzard to receive a kidney transplant. Jim has polysistic kidney disease, a hereditary affliction that took their mother nearly twenty years ago. Two years ago he had one kidney removed, and has been on dialysis three times a week ever since.
Our initial joy in learning that a “matched” kidney was available was tempered by what Jim told us next. The kidney came from one of his life-long friends, who had suffered an aneurysm and died suddenly just one day prior. Barb knew this man well, and has fond memories of him going back to her earliest childhood days. She grew up hanging out with her older brother and this man, watching them play sports together, watching them grow up and go off to college, and missing them when they were gone.
The deceased’s widow called Jim to tell him of the loss of her husband, and then to inform him that she wanted Jim to received one of her husband’s kidneys. Though standing at the extreme crisis in her life, she chose to exhibit equally extreme grace and love to someone else.
So our exultation was tempered with sadness, and with the wonder of God’s economy. Our own kids asked us some tough questions: “How do we celebrate Uncle Jimmy’s blessing while simultaneously grieving for the dead man’s family”? “Can we go to his funeral and say thank you to his family”? Great questions - and we are still having those discussions with our kids, trying to answer them as best we can.
On this same Sunday, Tony Dungy of the Indianapolis Colts won the Super Bowl; a prize he claims he owes largely to God. But who amongst us doubts that Dungy wouldn’t give it back in an instant, if in return, he could have his son back, standing next to him on the sidelines.
I don’t pretend to understand God’s economy, or how He determines who gets what, and when, and why; and conversely, who does not. I just try and accept it and trust in it. And I try (emphasis on try) to be as ready to show gratitude for the mercies we receive, as I am at being challenging of the tougher things that come our way.
