Infusion

Time to catch up on some writing!

I started chemotherapy ten days ago. One thought that struck me beforehand was the use of the word "infusion".

Chemotherapy is given by infusion, meaning the chemicals are delivered intravenously. Now, prior to all this cancer stuff, the word "infusion" meant something completely different to me. Something beautiful and natural and healthy. It fit with words like "aroma" and "herbal" and "extract". I'll quote the bottle of body wash sitting in my shower: "infused with all the alluring fragrance of cherry blossom and real extract of bamboo". Apparently, the cosmetics market has influenced my thinking!

This concept of infusion does NOT fit with the delivery of cell-killing poisons through a needle sticking into my vein, disturbing on many fronts.

Thankfully, I was able to endure my first infusion without focusing on the poison/vein goings-on. That's a huge and unexpected blessing, one I attribute to the prayers of many friends and family members. Rather, I rested (thanks to a Benadryl infusion!) and considered a third concept of infusion. I thought about spiritual infusion. Infusion implies something steeped or bathed in a manner that enters completely and thoroughly. When considering the mystery of the Spirit of God in our lives, perhaps infusion is a good word. The Bible talks about the Spirit of God "filling" or "coming upon" or "resting on" or "being poured on" someone. Sounds like a spiritual infusion to me.

Dear Father in heaven, infuse me with your spirit: your spirit of life, your spirit of peace, your spirit of wisdom. May I stand firm in Christ, who has anointed me, set His seal of ownership on me, and put His Spirit in my heart as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come (2 Cor. 1:21-22). Amen.