Sunday, September 13, 2009

A heart transplant and yellow squash

A very young gay couple we know received good news today. One of them has been waiting a long time for a heart transplant. A couple days ago, his condition took a frightening turn; but this morning his partner called us to announce that a heart had become available and was being brought in from a neighboring state. He's been prepped for surgery, though evidently it's not certain yet that they're going to be able to use this heart. If it happens, he'll have a new heart tomorrow morning.

At church today, during the Prayers of the People, when individuals are prompted to voice their own prayers, I prayed for the patient and his partner at the prompt to remember those who are sick or otherwise afflicted. Then, at the prompt to remember those who have died, I prayed for the donor.
Have you any that are sick among you,
or that are afflicted in any manner?
Bring them here and I will heal them;
for my bowels are filled with compassion towards you.
(3 Nephi 17:6-7)
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Hugo helps out some weekends at a food distribution program. Today he ended up with six boxes of surplus yellow squash in the trunk of our car which we've been trying to foist onto people. Hugo took one to a meeting; we left a box at church, and then another at a departmental potluck; we left a few bags with neighbors; and Hugo was finally reduced to driving around our apartment complex asking total strangers if they'd like squash, a strategy which very quickly relieved us of our last three boxes.

Why am I recording this? Because it's the closest I've come in a long time to direct, charitable service—which is pathetic. I need to reconsecrate some time for regular volunteer service. That's been weighing on me for a while.
You yourselves will succor those who stand in need of succor;
you will administer of your substance to those who stand in need.
(Mosiah 4:16)

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