Over this summer, I have had the (Dare I say it?) opportunity to work under David Pacholke at Finley Hospital in Dubuque, IA. To say the least, it may very well have been the hardest form of ministry I have ever encountered. Dealing with frailty on a regular basis gets to even the best of us. We realize it is hard. I can say first hand, it sucks.
This morning I went into a room for a patient that has been at the hospital sometime. She was weak, frail, and ultimately ready to die. But, still unwilling to give up on life. Her family sat around her wiping the tears away, trying to get some handle on why God was taking their mother away. I cannot be sure what they were thinking, but they made it clear that they didn't need me there. They needed to grieve, mourn, and let go.
It has become very clear from the first time I saw this patient that both her and her family didn't have a desire for me to be there with them. In this situation I am aware that the person is Methodist, so I assume they are people of faith. Although it sounds like their pastor has been visiting, it would seem that they would have a desire for the chaplain. Or, maybe they feel like they are covered, as if their is something we can do to feel comfortable about our frailty.
If nothing else, I have come to terms with human frailty. I do not assume to be completely aware of it, but I have come to terms with it. I have found that frailty does not bother me. I know I can break. I know I can die. I know this patient has broke, or is broken. I know she is going to die anytime now.
Here, though, is where being human and being frail becomes significantly important. It is our frailty and sinfulness that keeps us from breaching the chasm between this world and God. Jesus was the only offering that could breach the chasm. In doing so, God met us in our frailty and our sinfulness to give us eternal life through Jesus Christ. My hope for this patient, as is my hope for all humans, is to be aware and have faith in this concept. Because, if the concept is correct and more fact than some sort of religious tradition, it is the difference between human frailty and God gift to, in a sense, be invincible. God's gift through Jesus gives us the opportunity to be infinite. Human frailty then becomes no more than an outside image that we have confused to be weakness. For, through faith, our souls are covered by the blood of Jesus Christ. A blood that will never thin, but give our souls a new birth.
In this new birth, we find new life. Frailty then is no more than a false concept put forth by people who have no hope. We though, who are in Christ, have hope. We have life. And we have no reason to fear frailty.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
"A Good Man Down": Reflections
Late yesterday afternoon I finally got my newest Sports Illustrated from the mail. On the cover, one sees Coach Ed Thomas intensely looking back at you. The column: "A Good Man Down: The Murder of a Beloved High School Coach".
Tragedy always strikes when we least expect it. This is a saying that has been amongst us and is said often. Often times, this is very true. For instance, a man in is late twenties in the best shape of his life who shortly will be on his way to a second duty for the service oversees, when suddenly he has a freak accident falling out of the back of a pickup. He lands on his skull, which fractures, and this man will eventually die. This man who served his country and had been shot at dies in a way any one on this earth could.
Often times, tragedy strikes and we should have expected it. The man who students (not just people, these kids were freshman and sophomores in high school) saw kill Ed Thomas had just been let out of psychiatric care four days earlier. This man had lead police on a wild chase after trying to demolish a house. This man's family knew he had troubles for some time, anywhere from drug use to psychiatric problems that may or may not have been a result of the drugs. Man or woman, it doesnt matter, the reality is stories like this are becoming headlines more often than not. Troubled young people with no ability to deal with these ever growing problems finding the ability to blame someone else. Then, with a specific target(s) in mind, he or she will go out with a gun and start shooting. Tragedy strikes. But we should have expected it. We could not have known the target, but we damn well should have known there was going to be a target.
From a theological perspective, the town Thomas lived in could not be handling the situation better. People are supporting this loved coach and they may be asking why, but they are not blaming God. The town is also, for the most part, even forgiving the family of the one who murdered Thomas, which is a prime example of what Jesus meant when he said forgive and love your enemies.
Theologically speaking, God did not intend for Thomas to die. We can debate all we want about whether or not God knew Thomas was going to die, but God did not send the killer. This boy was troubled and did something rash. God sent Jesus to heal, comfort, forgive, and ultimately die for us. Jesus, who now watches from afar is weeping. Jesus weeps. He cries for a life taken unjustly. He cries because one of his own, the allegid killer who had gone to Wartburg, a Lutheran School, has gone astray to vices of this world that will only bring about pain. Jesus weeps for a nation that is unable to control the next person who will go crazy, find a gun, and shoot. So, Jesus weeps.
Ed Thomas, you were an amazing coach who did not deserve to die. You were an example. You are sitting at the right hand of Jesus. You had faith that rebuilt cities and formed football teams. In terms of vocation, you took your faith and affected those around you. We who are left, will take note. We who are left, must do the same. We who are left, must take the initiative to try to show peace and grace to those who are on the verge of going crazy, finding a gun, and shooting. God help us, for we are an ever sinful nation.
Tragedy always strikes when we least expect it. This is a saying that has been amongst us and is said often. Often times, this is very true. For instance, a man in is late twenties in the best shape of his life who shortly will be on his way to a second duty for the service oversees, when suddenly he has a freak accident falling out of the back of a pickup. He lands on his skull, which fractures, and this man will eventually die. This man who served his country and had been shot at dies in a way any one on this earth could.
Often times, tragedy strikes and we should have expected it. The man who students (not just people, these kids were freshman and sophomores in high school) saw kill Ed Thomas had just been let out of psychiatric care four days earlier. This man had lead police on a wild chase after trying to demolish a house. This man's family knew he had troubles for some time, anywhere from drug use to psychiatric problems that may or may not have been a result of the drugs. Man or woman, it doesnt matter, the reality is stories like this are becoming headlines more often than not. Troubled young people with no ability to deal with these ever growing problems finding the ability to blame someone else. Then, with a specific target(s) in mind, he or she will go out with a gun and start shooting. Tragedy strikes. But we should have expected it. We could not have known the target, but we damn well should have known there was going to be a target.
From a theological perspective, the town Thomas lived in could not be handling the situation better. People are supporting this loved coach and they may be asking why, but they are not blaming God. The town is also, for the most part, even forgiving the family of the one who murdered Thomas, which is a prime example of what Jesus meant when he said forgive and love your enemies.
Theologically speaking, God did not intend for Thomas to die. We can debate all we want about whether or not God knew Thomas was going to die, but God did not send the killer. This boy was troubled and did something rash. God sent Jesus to heal, comfort, forgive, and ultimately die for us. Jesus, who now watches from afar is weeping. Jesus weeps. He cries for a life taken unjustly. He cries because one of his own, the allegid killer who had gone to Wartburg, a Lutheran School, has gone astray to vices of this world that will only bring about pain. Jesus weeps for a nation that is unable to control the next person who will go crazy, find a gun, and shoot. So, Jesus weeps.
Ed Thomas, you were an amazing coach who did not deserve to die. You were an example. You are sitting at the right hand of Jesus. You had faith that rebuilt cities and formed football teams. In terms of vocation, you took your faith and affected those around you. We who are left, will take note. We who are left, must do the same. We who are left, must take the initiative to try to show peace and grace to those who are on the verge of going crazy, finding a gun, and shooting. God help us, for we are an ever sinful nation.
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