Bill Kramer

Instrumental Grace of Chaplains

The middle aged married woman acknowledged that she had come to the hospital because of terrible migraine headaches just as she had done several weeks before. Tests results indicated that everything was normal. The chaplain had stopped to spend time with her and see how she was doing. He asked her if by chance there were significant events that had occurred in her recent or distant past. It was then that she recalled that her husband had had a stroke and had developed seizures four years ago. Too, she realized with the inquiries of the chaplain, that the headaches that she had had all her life, became migraines four to six years ago. The chaplain wondered with her what her reaction was to her husband’s dramatic change in health. Without blinking she said that she often worried about his health and monitored closely his meds. Then the chaplain surprised the patient by asking her if she could recall when she last took a vacation or actually had some “fun”. The patient thought for a long moment and said that it had been a long time since she had taken a vacation and fun times were such a distant memory. The chaplain who sat across from the patient through out the visit, smiled and said, “Do you think there could be a connection between your health condition and the amount of rest and enjoyment you have in your life?” After a considerable pause and the slouching of her head, the patient thought and said, “There just may be. I may have to ask my family to help me care for my husband so that I can better care for myself. I probably need to take more time outs and play more bingo.” To which the chaplain only said, “Amen”.

Patients visit hospitals weekly and arrive overwhelmed by dozens of issues. Six of ten visits are stress related. Our chaplains’ time is patients’ time. It is the chaplain who often may assist patients to sort out their lives. The chaplains desire to listen, are trained how to and thus can help the patient listen to the rhythm of their own lives. This then may allow patients in the quiet of their own rooms and upon discharge to better see their own path to a more peaceful and richer life.