In and out of hospital rooms

Spiritual caregiving in the hospital: Windows to chaplaincy ministry Leah Dawn Bueckert and Daniel S. Schipani, eds. Pandora Press, 2006. 263 pages.

All of us find ourselves in a hospital from time to time. Whether we’re there for a visit, a test, or a long-term stay, we come with many emotions and wonderings.

In many Canadian hospitals, spiritual caregivers or chaplains walk in and out of rooms, chat at nurses’ stations, sit together with grieving families, and give spiritual care to those who find themselves in this place.

This book, a collection of essays by various healthcare chaplains, focuses on practical ways to engage in caring for people in crisis. Most of the material is quite technical and will resonate most with those in the profession, but there are insights to be gained even for the occasional visitor. Giving care to the ill and dying, after all, is not only for professionals, but also for congregants who visit with family and friends.

In “Pastoral Ministers and Volunteers,” Clair Hochstetler suggests that, like David the shepherd who chose five smooth stones to slay the giant, we choose five smooth stones of good caregiving. The stones are: compassion, accountability, respect, excellence, and wisdom. Keep them polished, she writes, and you will make a difference. This chapter also has an excellent appendix of questions to ask those in medical care.

In “Principles and Practices of Self-care” by Myra Raab, I was reminded of the need to “practice what I preach” by allowing time for myself. Sabbath rest or self-care is the “work” of caring for ourselves physically, spiritually, mentally, and emotionally so we can give spiritual care to others. This self-care is ongoing, not a one-time event.

All of us live with something shattered inside of us, whether it’s a broken relationship, the loss of dreams, or the illness and death of those near to us. Out of our own tragic experiences we are able to give help and understanding to those going through similar experiences. This book helps us recall our experiences in a way that makes such help possible.

Lorraine Dick is a member of South Langley Church, Langley, B.C.