Today's Devotion: Luke 3:11 (New International Version) - John answered, "The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same."
It is John the Baptist who spoke these words in the wilderness as the throngs came to watch him. It is the recurring theme of
Love Your Neighbor.
Today's Comments: I have been a long time absent from this blog. I just completed one unit of Clinical Pastoral Education. That unit is required for my ordination as a deacon in the Episcopal Church. My only obstacles now are three units of theology and passing my final interview.
CPE is one of the most intense programs that I have ever been through. Except out of necessity, I would never volunteer to do it again. However, working as an Intern Chaplain at both the Los Angeles County General Hospital and the Veterans Administration Hospital in Long Beach have taught me that being a hospital chaplain is what loving your neighbor is all about. These people do not, unless their church opts to do so, necessarily get paid for their work. And if they are paid, it is not very much. The nature of the work as hospital chaplain is just being there for the patient. You attempt to see everybody that is assigned to you, listen to their stories, ask the right questions or provide the right feedback to encourage them to share their emotions. It is all about letting people know that someone like you and God cares for them.
My most memorable experience was acting as Hospice Chaplain at the VA in Long Beach. I was assigned to a wonderful team of professionals (doctor, psychologist, nurse case manager, nursing assistants, and chaplain) who were responsible for making sure that the veteran, during the remaining portion of his or her life, was made as comfortable as possible. The wonderful thing about the experience was that I was immediately accepted as part of the team, and I was actually able to contribute to the team effort, as evidenced by the feedback that I received from other staff members, especially the Nurse Case Manager in charge of the hospice. I was also given access to virtually every part of the hospital, including intensive care, and was able to see the wonderful work that is done by the doctors and staff at the VA Hospital.
I must contrast my comments above with my observations at the County-USC-Medical Center. Thank God that a new hospital is going to open in October, because conditions there are abominable. Here, they treat the poorest of patients. Probably 75% of those who received treatment there do not speak English, and many are undocumented aliens. Yet, even there, the level of care, as described by most of the English speaking patients with whom I worked, was more than acceptable, and the staff seemed to be friendly and cheerful, although not to the same level that I experienced at the VA. But, I must also say that the staff chaplains there do wonderful work and are dedicated to helping and comforting their patients.
St. Camillus Roman Catholic Church coordinates the program for all Catholic and Protestant chaplains, except for one group of evangelistic chaplains. It is a monumental task, and St. Camillus has to be commended for their work with the sick.
However, I am pleased to say that I am glad to be back home and not subject to the almost 48 hour week of classes and practical experience that is required by the program. But it is an experience that I am not apt to forget.
