Yes! My "custodial" patients in my little community hospital felt the same way. They wanted to hear about life outside their four walls. And tv wasn't the answer. ❤️
Not a chaplain but provide a lot of “care” to a variety of different folks and your experience rings so true. In my experience, most people do not want to be only on the receiving end,I know I don’t! Thanks for being open and giving life and spiritual health to those in your care. Your instincts are right on and don’t let anyone tell you differently.
It is so interesting which deaths hit the hardest - and which people stay with you over time. There are a handful of parishioners who've died over the years that I still dream about. I still speak to.
They aren't necessarily my favorite (I always say that a pastor's job is to make sure that everyone in their care realizes they are your favorite...), they just never let me go, even after we said goodbye.
This is so touching and true. I wrote an essay on a similar topic a few weeks ago. I had two deaths in my parish while I was on vacation and they hit me harder than any before. I had to spend a lot of time thinking about that and I came to realize that it’s simply impossible to keep certain boundaries when you walk these journeys with people for extended periods of time. We can’t just clock out and leave our emotions at the door when we leave. If we did I think we might be missing an integral part of the heart of our calling. It’s hard. But I also am finding peace in the grieving and hope in the healing. Thanks for putting more words to this experience. Here’s my essay if you would like to read it…https://theweavingwisdomproject.substack.com/p/marking-the-grave?r=2v2tij&utm_medium=ios
Yes! My "custodial" patients in my little community hospital felt the same way. They wanted to hear about life outside their four walls. And tv wasn't the answer. ❤️
Yes! TV does so little compared to face to face connection.
Not a chaplain but provide a lot of “care” to a variety of different folks and your experience rings so true. In my experience, most people do not want to be only on the receiving end,I know I don’t! Thanks for being open and giving life and spiritual health to those in your care. Your instincts are right on and don’t let anyone tell you differently.
Patrick, this is so kind. Thank you!
It is so interesting which deaths hit the hardest - and which people stay with you over time. There are a handful of parishioners who've died over the years that I still dream about. I still speak to.
They aren't necessarily my favorite (I always say that a pastor's job is to make sure that everyone in their care realizes they are your favorite...), they just never let me go, even after we said goodbye.
Oh this is so meaningful to me because I have dreams about mine, too. Sometimes years later, out of the blue.
This is so touching and true. I wrote an essay on a similar topic a few weeks ago. I had two deaths in my parish while I was on vacation and they hit me harder than any before. I had to spend a lot of time thinking about that and I came to realize that it’s simply impossible to keep certain boundaries when you walk these journeys with people for extended periods of time. We can’t just clock out and leave our emotions at the door when we leave. If we did I think we might be missing an integral part of the heart of our calling. It’s hard. But I also am finding peace in the grieving and hope in the healing. Thanks for putting more words to this experience. Here’s my essay if you would like to read it…https://theweavingwisdomproject.substack.com/p/marking-the-grave?r=2v2tij&utm_medium=ios