A DIVINE INTERSECTION

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved His appearing.”  (2 Timothy 4:7-8 ESV)

Preparing for a death by creating meaningful rituals encourages emotional catharsis and spiritual release. And acknowledging family dynamics, in spite of the helpless and painful feelings, helps us move toward a resolution, however imperfect it may be.

We are fortunate when we have the time – the luxury, really – to say goodbye, particularly if it’s under the guidance of hospice workers, chaplains and pastors. These are the people who teach us that the end of life requires an awareness that transcends the confines of traditional medicine… Palliative care is based on this principle, in the tending to the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the dying, in the recognition of the mystery of life’s final cycle, and in the realization that there is a time to hold on and a time to let go. Coming to terms with these very basic tenets will better prepare us for the two roles that we must each adopt over the course of our lives – as the living with the dying and as the dying with the living. Though our scripts will differ, our need to understand them will not.

Death forces a grace period for us all. In a “divine intersection” the dying offer the living a final chance to be the best that they can be. We must take our cues from them, value the moments that lead up to and follow their departure, and work toward acceptance after they are gone. This is a vow as sacred as any we will make over the course of our lifetime. 

-- Adapted from “In Lieu of Flowers: A Conversation for the Living” by Nancy Cobb

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A PRAYER FOR OUR CLERGY

“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.”  (Philippians 1:3-5 NIV)

For Clergy Appreciation Month may this prayer bring comfort and encouragement to all those who serve in ministry.

Heavenly Father,

We come before You with grateful hearts, lifting up our local church pastors, chaplains, and retired clergy. We thank You for their dedication, their tireless service, and their unwavering commitment to caring for Your flock.

For our local church pastors, we ask for Your continued guidance and strength. Bless them with wisdom as they lead their congregations, and fill them with Your Spirit so they may preach Your Word with boldness and clarity. Grant them the endurance to face the challenges of ministry and the joy of seeing lives transformed by Your grace.

For our chaplains, who serve in hospitals, military, prisons, and other institutions, we pray for Your protection and peace. May they be a source of comfort and hope to those in need, and may their presence be a reflection of Your love and compassion demonstrated through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Give them the words to speak in difficult situations and the strength to carry out their duties with grace and mercy.

For our retired clergy, we offer our deepest gratitude for their years of faithful service. May they find rest and fulfillment in their retirement, knowing that their labor in Your vineyard has not been in vain. Bless them with good health, joy, and the continued assurance of Your presence in their lives.

Lord, we ask that You surround all these faithful servants with Your love and encouragement. May their hearts be uplifted by the appreciation and support of their communities. Strengthen them in their calling, and may they always feel valued and cherished for the work they do in Your name.

We pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

-- SOUND BITES Ministry, compiled from a variety of sources

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A SONG OF HOPE

Hope is the belief that what little contributions and differences I make in my life have enduring and cumulative consequences. A friend of mine, Jaime Potter-Miller, told me a story once that took place when she served as a chaplain at a retirement community in Western Pennsylvania. She found herself making pastoral calls one afternoon on some of the there-but-not-there residents. How does one provide pastoral care to a woman in the later stages of Alzheimer’s or to a non compos mentis man, she wondered?

Jaime determined that one way of caring for these people was to bring her guitar and sing. There was a patient in particular, however, for whom even singing seemed like a waste of time. A brain stem stroke had left this woman virtually comatose, with not even a twitch of response to any stimuli in years. Her family had tried everything they could to reach her, but nothing evoked even a semblance of recognition.

Unable to bypass this woman’s bed, Jaime bent down with her guitar as close to the woman’s face as she could get, and began signing. Jaime asked herself, “I wonder what she sang when she went to Sunday school?” She sang her answers, one of which was “Great Is Thy Faithfulness.” During this song, Jaime thought she heard a groaning sound. Then she watched in amazement as this stroke victim began to make guttural noises. Jaime stopped singing, afraid the woman was having another stroke, and called the nurse.

The nurse examined the woman and found her no different than usual. “You had to be imagining it,” she said to Jaime. “This woman hasn’t had any bodily response to anything or anyone in years.” But Jaime wouldn’t let her go.

“Listen to this,” Jaime insisted. Once again she sang “Great Is Thy Faithfulness.” And once again the woman began making those sighs and sounds “too deep for words.”

The nurse bolted out of the room, collected every other medical staff person she could find, and brought them in to witness a miracle. A simple song [of faith] had reached into this woman’s soul and touched her where nothing else could. Jaime later said to me, “Len, I had no idea how deep the roots of faith go down.”

-- Leonard Sweet in “A cup of Coffee at the Soul Café”

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