Chapl'n Chat

This second week of chaplain training is over. I'm on-call....again. But who, in this biz isn't?? Alongside learning how to fill out the many forms involved in hospital/medical record documentation, I was able to begin making rounds on my units. These first visits are also a little difficult. You have "management" pressure to get your quota done, but then you have real relationships to begin and build on, too. Initial visits are all about obtaining personal information, spiritual assessment, and gaining initial rapport. I don't really consider myself an evangelist (as a verb) so my agenda is not about soul-winning. I guess it's about trust-gaining instead. I like to listen as people tell their stories. The way people tell the stories of their lives really reveals a lot. I have to listen with an unbiased ear, so that if there are issues imbedded there, then perhaps I can help tease them out. Some of my visits this past week gave me great fodder as a counselor-chaplain, but I have to keep in mind that this means people are really hurting, and it's much deeper than physical. As a chaplain-in-training, I walk a fine line between using experiences for my own education, and being used to help people with their issues. I hope that I err on the side of the patient, even if my learning objectives are not met.