Yesterday, I was the only official "minister" available to do some hospital visitations, and so I went to two different hospitals (thankfully at two different times) in order to pray and encourage those who were in the hospital.
It's one of my biggest struggles as a minister.
I think hospitals remind me of two things: (1) when my mom was suffering from cancer, she was in the hospital a lot and being in a hospital brings me back to 1987-1989; (2) my own trips to the hospital for brain surgery. I am totally out of my comfort zone when I'm in a hospital and have to really pray for courage and peace of mind when I'm in one.
Hospital visitation at a new ministry position is even harder.
In both instances yesterday, I had never met those who were in the hospital. And I had no idea if they had seen me or been to worship since I've been at the church. Which means there was a good chance that I would be wandering around each hospital calling out their name. Thankfully that didn't happen. But it was still awkward.
It only makes it even more awkward when you feel like you're the third string minister who is showing up because the first two can't make it (one was out of town, one was sick). "Hi, my name is Adam, you might have seen me on a Sunday morning, and by the way ________ and _________ couldn't be here, so I hope that having me here brings some encouragement."
Yesterday, as I was leaving the second hospital, I was reminded of a time in my own life when I was grateful for someone visiting me in the hospital, someone I had never met before. When I had my first brain surgery in Arizona, I was on the church staff (as an intern), and I had the entire church staff and eldership show up at the hospital to pray for me before surgery. Four months later I had to have the surgery again. This time I was no longer employed by the church (I was supposed to take a college internship at a large church in the Phoenix area, but because of my second brain surgery, that fell through so I was in between ministries) and I guess staff and elders at the church I had given my all for a year decided I wasn't worth visiting a second time, so I was all alone. About fifteen minutes before I was going to be whisked into the surgery room, a Baptist minister was walking by. He stopped in my room and said he was walking through the hall asking patients if they wanted him to pray for them, and he asked if I wanted the same. I told him yes. He prayed for me, shook my hand and left. Even though I had never met this man, I was so thankful that he showed up.
And hopefully the people I visited yesterday, even though they had never met me, even though I was the "third option," felt the same way.
1 comment:
Adam
Let me reassure you that as a nurse who has taken care of thousands of patients at the bedside, the fact that you came means alot. Most people in the hospital feel alone and afraid and it's reassuring to have someone pray for them. If you ever come to Miami Valley make sure you come say hi:) I'm up on the 6th floor right off the main elevator..my name is on the door. And...you are never the 3rd option..God put you there for a reason so you are his first option.
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