Infusion is an interesting word.  Webster’s says to infuse means ‘to cause to be permeated with something that alters for the better; to steep; to introduce one thing into another so as to affect it throughout; a pouring in of something that gives new life or significance; introduction of a quality that fills and permeated the whole being.’

  The reason I think this is worth looking at is because of my experience with chemotherapy infusion yesterday.  Chemo doesn’t exactly have a positive connotation to it.  If we are honest, when we hear the word chemotherapy we have the opposite reaction.  It is a negative thing and something to pity for anyone having to go through it.  Having started my treatment, I would agree it isn’t exactly something I look forward to doing again in three weeks.  But the word infusion on the door caught my eye yesterday and from there it worked its way into my mind.  First of all, because I know the word has a positive meaning, but second of all because of what that meaning is.  To permeate…that is serious mixing; mixing something good until it changes your whole being.   It is on a deep level this kind of life altering pouring in.  Of course, in my situation this causes me to view my treatments in a more positive light.  This is going to change my whole being.  My cancer will be gone and my life will have new significance.  Life changing.  Life giving. 

Now you know that I wouldn’t touch this word if I didn’t see a spiritual lesson in it.  I’m sure you can see it too.  When the Lord is infused into our lives it changes our whole being.  It is life changing and life giving.  It is deep mixing of his love into us and it will affect us throughout every area of life.  It changes the way we look at things around us and gives us new ways to think about things like chemotherapy.

I had a dream…more like a thought in between my waking and sleeping.  I saw the Holy Spirit pouring into my veins.  The fire of God was in my arms and legs, flowing throughout my body. He was infusing my blood with life.  He was searching out the darkness of my enemy, cancer, and burning it out of me.  It was an awesome power that had nothing to do with me but everything to do with his nature.  I woke with a new hope. 

Sitting in my chair at the “Infusion suite” yesterday I had a burning sensation when the chemicals went into my blood.  It did not feel good but the picture in my mind came to me fresh and I prayed that the Holy Spirit would burn up the bad cells and infuse me with his life.  It brought his hope into the darkness of the moment.  It gave me reason to hold on and get through the tough parts.  Today I feel okay…not great…but not terrible.  They say tomorrow most likely will be the worst day but I say I have hope.  I can do this.  I can get through it because I have been infused by the fire of the Holy Spirit!