CPE Revisited

This morning after church, one of the pastors asked if I would make some hospital visits today. Flashbacks of CPE came rolling through my head as he listed off the 7 people for me to call on at one of the hospitals. Cancer patients, heart patients, people post-op, some in for routine things, others for emergencies, their family and friends.

(The number of Our Saviors people in the hospital continues to grow as the winter visitor population increases. And I wasn't even seeing all of the people on the list today.)

As I drove to the hospital, I was thinking about this last summer and the good and bad I encountered at United. I kept trying to remember what I learned from my 400+ hours spent as a chaplain and what kind of an impact it made on me as an individual and as a pastor.

But I am still kind of speechless about the whole thing.

Maybe it's because I have a horrible memory, or because the experiences I had have become such a part of me that I don't remember pastoral care "pre-CPE." Or maybe it's simply because I haven't thought that much about CPE in the past three months, even though I'm in the hospitals almost on a daily basis. I'm sure it's a combination of all three.

However, I do know that I am grateful to have had the experience of being with those people in June, July, and August, just as I am grateful to have visited these people today. I think this is what I like most about this ministry. Actually, I know that this is what I like most about ministry.

I'm not huge on sitting in an office and reading. I get too antsy. I don't especially like doing exegesis or shuffling through Bible commentaries. I get bogged down. I don't even get that excited about liturgy and traditional hymns.

I like to visit people, greet them, and remind them that we (God, the church, me) care. I like taking time to hear people's stories. I like to smile and to laugh with them. I like to joke about the horrible hospital food and Sunday football scores. I like to support and encourage them while holding their hands and praying with them.

Sure it takes time, but this escapade today was a good reminder for me as to why I'm here. Some days I wonder. I guess it's my nature to do so. Tomorrow might be different (it probably will be!), but, for some reason tonight I know.

And that's certainly something to be thankful for!

Have a great week. And Happy New Year :) (It's the first Sunday of the church year.)

Peace--

HGJ