The Journey Begins
The Journey Begins
Where to begin? I find myself after years of service as a teacher, medic, and now chaplain with the greatest opportunity to lift and care for people. I just don’t feel adequate to help people help themselves. My greatest gift as a teacher was helping students believe in themselves when no one else would. I empowered them through love, hope and never giving up on the person I saw in them. This was a patience game. Young people want to see if you’ll stick it out with them, even despite them. They can be cruel and relentless to test your love.
As I wrote that last statement I realized that it is no different with the adults I work with now. They have the same need as the kids. To be loved, heard, known. Some of them have never had this need met. That is why I go back to my opening statement. Where to begin? It is so difficult at times to know what to say or not say, do or not do, when to speak or be silent. I have witnessed some masters in the art of hearing/healing, loving/affirming and knowing like my Savior does. I started my CPE journey to learn from others who passionately follow God in seeing, hearing, understanding, being… with others. Each week as we review in class, I observe others doing what Christ did and I gain tidbits that help me to better my discipleship and see/lead through pain and suffering to find the place where healing begins. One such experience that shifted my thinking was when a thought shared about the message it sends when we rush to give someone a tissue to ease their pain… or to ease our pain or discomfort. Do we offer that tissue to give comfort? Or, do we offer it to move away from the discomfort that we are feeling? Does that offered tissue send the message that the suffering, pain and discomfort that Is being felt needs to stop, because I need to move on - or can I sit with my brother/sister and help them to empty out the pain and anger so that they can rebuild? Can I be the someone by their side that is going to patiently listen, cry, fear, worry, love, hope and heal with them. The words don’t always come like I hope they will, but as I journey with others my eyes better see the people around me as people. People just like me that are wondering, where do I begin?
I am excited for the journey the CPE experience will provide through the sharing of our experiences/struggles to find better ways to sit with others, as they seek better ways to ride the emotions of life. I can’t wait to see how shifting the way I greet others will build better trust and open doors for others to have a safe place to share. After all, don’t we all need to know/feel someone cares about us?
