Thankfully, I've started feeling more like myself today. And it's a big day, because it's our daughter, Hannah's, prom this evening. I've been receiving images of nails being done and hair being styled and makeup being applied throughout the course of my working day.
Over the last number of weeks, the topic of the prom and, particularly the colour and style of the dress, has been a popular topic of conversation with many people in the hospital. I've been terribly inept at describing said dress, and when I looked at it, before leaving for work this morning, I realised how wrong I've been every time someone has asked.
I do know that I'll be incredibly proud when I see my daughter wearing it later.
The details and experiences of people's lives are hugely important. Chaplain's have the great privilege of sharing and listening to anything and everything that's important to people.
A colleague shared this lovely video, that does an excellent job of highlighting the kind of work we do, day to day.
It takes a diverse group of people to make up a great chaplaincy team and I was thrilled to fill in for our lead chaplain this morning, in chairing our team meeting. I was really blessed by the compassion, experience, camaraderie, support, expectancy, hope, teamwork, humanity etc. in the room earlier.
Genuinely humbled to work with such excellent people. There were many highlights but two that I'd like to recall and ponder a bit more. Firstly, a profound explanation was given by one of my colleagues, as she spoke into the difficulties that exist between church denominations and the work of hospital chaplains. These can be fierce when it comes to subjects that are felt strongly about. Especially, where there are hard lines. The advice was, that we work not on the basis of theological dogma but from a place of pastoral need.
Wonderful.
“To be kind is more important than to be right. Many times, what people need is not a brilliant mind that speaks but a special heart that listens.”
— F. Scott Fitzgerald
Ray Chambers also notes these five keys to happiness:
1. Live in the moment
2. It's better to be loving than to be right
3. Be a spectator to your own thoughts, especially when you become emotional
4. Be grateful for at least one thing every day
5. Help others every chance you get
So, I've just supported a family who were at the bedside of their beloved nan. The granddaughter is in a same sex relationship and her and her partner were navigating the pain and distress of saying goodbye.
The church at large is in a real wrestle with issues of gender, sexuality and identity at the moment. One of my colleagues wears this badge.
And creating a safe place in the midst of heartache is so important.
We prayed the Lord's prayer together and listened to the words of Calon Lân. The english translation says,
I don’t ask for a luxurious life,
the world’s gold or its fine pearls,
I ask for a happy heart,
an honest heart, a pure heart.
And we ended with these words of blessing.
May you be surrounded and encircled, above and below and about, with the deep Love that binds us all.
It's better to be loving than to be right.
Now, off to the Prom.