I have just finished a two day orientation to my new volunteer work with Pastoral Care at our local hospital. My volunteer work will be hosting the chapel once or twice a week and being there as a listening ear; providing comfort and support. In this orientation, every aspect of the hospitals operations were covered, from nursing care to laundry operations. Not being a regular user of the medical system myself, I was very impressed at the lengths at which all employees were trained to accommodate and serve all people with respect for their spirituality and religion. Another aspect of the training covered the care of the dying. Here I was moved to hear other health care workers stories of what moved them and what they found challenging about this aspect of their work. A young paramedic shared that he had seen so many people die while in transit that he felt he was starting to distance himself from the very meaning of death. Unfortunately, at times he also is the target of a persons anger when this persons loved ones dies while on the young paramedics watch. He takes it, apologizes and then has to deal with it alone. My heart just went out to this guy. I thought about the bravery of his work. Just by doing his job, he brings the elements of attentiveness, effectiveness, duty, protection, and knowledgeable care to a situation. These are spiritual qualities that help to take away fear, and in many cases bring a sense of relief either to a patient, a patients loved ones or both. The healing balm his work brings to a patient is fundamental to that patients care. He really epitomized for me a prayer by Mother Teresa that was shared at the beginning of the orientation. Here are some excerpts: Anyway People are often unreasonable, illogical or self-centred. Forgive them anyway. If you are honest and frank people may cheat you. Be honest and frank anyway. The good you do today people will often forget tomorrow. Be good anyway. Give the world the best you have and it may never be good enough. Give the world the best you've got anyway. You see, in the final analysis it is between you and God It was never between you and them anyway. I have often found it difficult to look to people for recognition or a reward in doing good. Many times, it simply is not there. But, as Mother Teresas poem states, our actions are between God and us. We reflect God. Not partially , but wholly. It is the spiritual power behind forgiveness, honesty, creativity, happiness, goodness, unselfishness, loving and healing our fellow man -- these qualities of God in turn protect us. Mary Baker Eddy, 19th century healer and best-selling author, helps define this power further. In Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, she writes, Clad in the panoply of Love, human hatred cannot harm us. Further, she writes, It is proverbial that Florence Nightingale and other philanthropists engaged in humane labors have been able to undergo (,) without sinking (,) fatigues and exposures which ordinary people could not endure. The explanation lies in the support which they derived from the divine law, rising above the human. The spiritual demand, quelling the material, supplies energy and endurance surpassing all other aids.... Loving one another, unselfishness and good deeds HAVE power. It is this power that we can claim. We do good because we are good and God guides each one of us in channels of His Love. We are protected from fear, despair, attack, by claiming and accepting Gods protecting power and love for us. For all those paramedics who are doing heroic work, this article is a prayer that recognizes you cannot be harmed for doing this necessary work and that you all are greatly appreciated and loved. |
