IV poles and lines hooked up to person and machine
Beeps, buzzes and interruptions;
Not what most would consider the Holy of Holies.
Add in a hurting person
A person struggling with questions and change.
Give a hefty dose of a chaplain fully present
not ready to fix, but to listen deeply to the unsaid words
and ask the unasked question, the question that gets to the heart of the struggle.
Mix in two sets of tears
And an additional visit of celebration of breakthroughs that give peace,
Top with prayer and thanksgiving.
Let the day be inoculated into the chaplain's heart
And you get a prescription for a day spent on Holy Ground.
Take a deep breath and feel the after effects of humbleness for being
allowed to be present to such sacred work.
And restoration of soul comes in thankfulness for remembering to
be fully present.
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| Fountain in hospital chapel. Photo credit - Joy Freeman |
Very nice, Joy. I'm a colleague though we've never met--through APC certification and now on to about 25 years of hospital
ReplyDeletechaplaincy.
Thank you Barbara. I'm glad you joined me here today. Nice to "meet" you.
DeleteBeautiful! It is such holy work to stand in the path of those who need a listening ear! Thank you, for the poem and for the work you do, Joy!!
ReplyDelete