Showing Up in Unexpected Moments
When people conjure images of my role as a pediatric chaplain, they often envision shadowy hospital rooms where whispers of heart-wrenching news echo softly. Yet, in reality, my daily journey is a kaleidoscope of experiences, walking hand in hand with children and their families through the labyrinthine corridors of the healthcare system.
One day, while making my usual rounds in the pediatric day-unit waiting room – a place I visited several times daily – I encountered a young child who reminded me of the significance of simply being present, as well as the remarkable moments that can happen in this field. This child wasn’t a patient himself; he was the sibling of a younger patient who was waiting to be seen. His mother was busy attending to his baby brother, and understandably, he found it hard to sit still. His mother seemed a bit overwhelmed as she juggled her responsibilities.
Observing from a distance, I realized the child just needed a bit of attention to keep him occupied while his mother focused on his brother. He was captivated by the TV in the room and wanted to find something interesting to watch. His mother, not wanting him to be a disturbance, kept asking him to sit quietly. After watching for a few moments, I approached, picked up the TV remote from the desk, and sat beside him, asking what he wanted to watch. At that time, the waiting room was empty except for this family, so he wasn’t bothering anyone else. His mother spoke only Spanish, which made communication challenging until the interpreter arrived. However, the young boy was fluent in English, and we quickly started chatting.
Within about five minutes, we found a TV show that caught his interest, and I also discovered a few other activities he enjoyed. As we watched TV and played games in the lobby, his mother began to smile from afar. The hospitality agent and I reassured her that he was doing fine. But it was his question that turned this encounter into something profound. He asked, “Why are you being so nice to me? My teachers are never this nice to me.” I was taken aback for a moment, and I began to wonder about his experiences at school and in his community. I asked him about school, and he shared how challenging it was to make friends and find a teacher who treated him kindly. We talked about his feelings and what acceptance meant to him.
What his brother was being treated for that day might seem minor in the grand scheme of things, but I can't shake the feeling that this small issue could be the start of something significant for this young fellow – or at least, that’s what I’d like to believe. The child’s experience in the hospital waiting room served as a stark contrast to his daily life at school, highlighting the profound impact of simple acts of kindness and acceptance. This encounter underscored the importance of creating safe and nurturing environments for children, not only in healthcare settings but also in educational institutions. It also demonstrated how seemingly minor interactions can have far-reaching effects on a child’s emotional well-being and self-perception, potentially shaping their future interactions and relationships.
To me, chaplaincy is the art of presence. It’s about stepping into the unknown, where the tapestry of life unfolds in unexpected ways. We arrive, often unaware of the stories that await us or the roles we will play. Yet we stand ready, like sentinels of faith, poised for the perfect moment to weave our threads into the fabric of the present.
