All in Chaplaincy Resources
As I reflect on the words “Let the little children come to me and don’t hinder them for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven” (Luke 18:15–17), I envision the golden gates of heaven being thrown open and little children everywhere running around with the purest joy you can imagine. Big smiles, no earthly ailments to hinder their physical abilities. I imagine the happiest moment in my life, but instead of just reliving that one moment, it’s a feeling that never ends. But today, this scripture has a whole different personal meaning when I hear it.
I was reminded in this encounter of how adaptable chaplains have to be on a daily basis. We show up for the crises but also the liminal space of the unknown. And where others see barriers, we often see an opportunity to build a bridge.
Those of us in the chaplaincy caregiving realm of ministry have the privilege of journeying with people in some of their most challenging life experiences. Yet we also, if we’re really engaged with their narratives, are using much psychic and spiritual energy. We need refreshment.
As I incorporated reverence into my practice, I began to recognize the presence of God. Yes, there was overwhelming need and sadness in this critical care hospital but in the midst of it all, if I stopped to be still and practice reverence, I witnessed how God was at work in this place.
In the hustle of hospital corridors, amidst the beeping of monitors and the steady flow of patients and staff, chaplains often encounter God in ways that defy conventional expectations. As microcosms of human diversity, hospitals present unique opportunities to witness God. Here, individuals face their most vulnerable selves, whether due to illness, loss, or fear. In these moments, God is encountered in profound, unfiltered ways. It is not always within the walls of a church or in the company of believers that we most powerfully experience the divine. Instead, God’s presence often reveals itself in the faces and lives of those we least expect—those who may never speak the language of faith yet embody the very heart of divine compassion. These encounters reveal that the image of God—the imago Dei—dwells in everyone (Genesis 1:26-27).
Victor’s room looks out on a small courtyard. From his bed, he can see other buildings and a sliver of sky – just enough to be able to tell whether it’s clear or cloudy, rainy or fair. This limited view is as much as he has seen of the outside world since he was admitted to the hospital for a surgical operation that was supposed to be routine but instead was followed by serious complications.
My father is a professional artist, and when I was five years old, our local church commissioned him to paint a mural of St. John of God. John was born in Portugal in 1495 and was a soldier before he had a personal encounter with God. After this radical encounter, he believed his vocation was to serve the sick and poor, and he was often found cleaning the wounds of lepers. My father's painting depicted the leper whose feet St. John was washing, as the leper miraculously transformed into Christ. That powerful image impacted me as a child, has remained with me, and has become a part of my pastoral identity as a hospital chaplain.
Professionally, Chaplains are expected to gain self-awareness. I already noted how personal identity is formed through the connecting links of stories, and awareness of this helps identify the stories of others. The motivations for a calling to ministry can be numerous and sometimes may appear self-serving.
Imagine receiving a call telling you to evacuate your home due to a fast-moving fire in your direction and there’s only one road out. What do you take with you? Where do you go, and how much time do you have? Such was our situation on September 4, 2011. I was in shock and had no idea what to do.
Many times, we care for those who are sick and in need of comfort, forgetting the men and women who care for the sick and dying. Let us lift them up in prayer daily.
While God is the source of our spirituality, let us dig deeper and consider what is spiritual to us and how might it benefit us.
Deidra said, “Small acts of kindness that remind me that I matter; that someone cares about me. It’s people like Miss Suzi who make me think that everything actually will be okay.”
Will I always so purposefully offer self-care to myself? Realistically, no. But now I’ve learned to reframe my question to the tired caregiver.
The Trinity put on flesh through Jesus’s birth, and when you show up as Jesus On You, that moment becomes an uncontaminated image, purely the companionship of Jesus.
Keeping grounded and fed by my faith, I am able and capable to help others heal and grow in their own spiritual and emotional wellbeing.
Along the way, I learned much about walking with patients and others, about relying on God’s Spirit to guide me, and about finding ways of keeping myself balanced.
I realized that chaplains are the spiritual connection for patients and families in times of need, but we are human, too.
May we too continually be surprised with the moments of joy in our care that reflect God’s presence in the world!
There is no doubt that chaplaincy has its own share of challenges. But I have found that often our assumptions about the work of chaplaincy and the actual work of a chaplain are often quite different.
With a great steering team of board-certified chaplains and a lot of interest from chaplains across the country, I’m delighted to see the initial vision to serve chaplains associated with the Stone-Campbell tradition and ACU come to reality.
