conjectural navel gazing; jesus in lint form

friday...t.g.i.f.

On Fridays we are supposed to write a weekly reflection on our work for the week. Though I do not and will not share completely online what I go through in the hospital, I did want to share something of what I am feeling today.

I am tired.

The other Trauma/Critical Care chaplain has been on vacation all week. What little (!?) blogging I have done this week has been my freedom, my breaks. I have been responsible for 133 critical care beds and the ER. Every morning I walk into some situation where a well-loved person is dying or dead. I will see two or more out as the day progresses. As tired as I am, I am grateful that it has been a light week. Few deaths. It is the risidual from Easter. But all I have been doing uis wrestling with death. There have been no pleasant conversations with someone with apendicitis. No paling around with the nursing staff. I have not even been able to take lunch on a couple of days. Oy.

But there have been gifts with the challenges. I have had a Moslem man tell me that he was golad for my presense, "for we are the children of Abraham. Today you are my brother." I have had wives weep in my arms. I have comforted a fellow employee whose father died here in the hospital. I have held the hand of a police officer as she asks a family difficult questions. I am now allowed to call one of the ER docs "Pumpkin." Tearms of endearment are precious. Brother. Pumpkin. Pastor. Mouse. Baby. Sweety. I have used all of these this week. Many have been used in reference to me. These ER folk can call me "Sweety" any time they want. And Pumpkin can call me "Father." I'll learn to live with it for the privilege of calling him "Pumpkin."

It has been a good week.

The Sciavo case has been a constant conversation online and in the rooms. There has been an increase of the number of people who want to fill out advanced directives. This is good. Still, more people should be doing it, but for now, I will be grateful for the raised awareness.

Peace to you all. I will hope to post again today. Keep us in your prayers here. Things are fairly calm right now. It won't last, but pray that the respite is joyful.

Posted by tripp at April 1, 2005 10:53 AM