If we believe God is alive, well, and working in our world…how do we discern the Spirit’s invitation for our lives?
A conversation with Father Taylor Albright from Trinity Church Tariffville.
Thank You For Visiting
Before my dad’s death, he thanked me for taking the time to visit him. I was reminded of the importance of giving time to those I love.
The exhaustion of flying back and forth to visit him was forgotten as he said thank you.
His words provided a caregiver lesson about the importance of giving my time to those I love.
What about Healing?
We often pray for God to heal ourselves or those we love. How are we to think about healing and God’s power to heal when we do not experience the kind of healing we long for?
Father Taylor Albright from Trinity Church Tariffville and I talk about healing and living in a way that sees all of life as a gift.
Love my nurses
Over the past six years, I have had many teams of nurses. I love my nurses for the way they care for me. I saw it again this morning.
When I arrived for my treatment I was quietly ushered back into the treatment room. The room is large with about twelve “bays” separated by low walls and curtains. You can be as public or private as you want during your treatment.
My MO is to find a corner “bay” put on noise canceling headphones and sleep away the three or four hours of treatment. I count it a good day when I do not hear anything and am awakened at the end of my treatment by one of my nurses telling me it is time to go home.
The problem is those corner bays are precious. A lot of us patients have learned they are nice, quiet places to be.
As I walked in my favorite corner had all the curtains drawn. Curtains drawn mean someone beat me to my spot. My nurse spoke softly and said, “your spot is ready, I pulled the curtains so nobody else would take it this morning.” Talk about awesome! I love these people and the way they care for me.
The curtain debacle
A few hours into treatment I awoke to all kinds of commotion. One of my nurses had opened the curtain to adjust my drugs and the curtain started falling off the track. The end cap had fallen off and it was clear the curtain was eventually going to end up on the floor. Trying to ignore everything I went back to sleep.
As I got ready to leave I looked at the curtain. It was an easy fix. Someone tall needed a step stool and it could easily be handled.
I found a chair, grabbed the half wall, and was up fixing the curtain before my nurses had a clue.
Hysteria
From across the room first one, then a duet of nurses started stuttering and stammering.
When they asked what I was standing on, I told them the trashcan…more hysteria.
I had the curtain fixed in less than three minutes.
At that point it became a project. “While you are up there, lets find something to keep it from coming apart again.” My nurses repurposed a paper towel, and I fashioned it into a end cap to keep the curtain from coming out in the future.
Once on the ground I received a mixture of chastisement and praise.
While they got me ready to leave I laughed and told them we just saved about a month worth of work orders, multiple trips to the site to view the issue, place an order for parts, and then return to fix the issue. Not to mention some poor nurse would get yelled at for not knowing how to properly open a curtain.
In the end my nurses settled on this endeavor being a form of assessment. On past chemo days I would not have had the energy to attempt fixing the curtain. The fact that I did this must mean I was feeling better.
I wonder how they will write it up in their notes? “Noticed patient climbing to the ceiling and assessed he must be feeling better than previous treatments.”
Living a Life Nobody Wants
Some may see the stress caused by caregiving and do not want to experience MY life. I have learned that every life comes with struggles.
While my life seems normal to me, I have learned that other people look at the stress of my life and do NOT want to be ME.
That reality got me thinking about how we think about our lives and the experiences of others.
I pray I will always have the eyes to see the struggles of others and look for opportunities to come alongside and support people in difficult seasons.
One gift of being a caregiver is that we learn to see the world through different eyes.
Where is God in This?
Asking the question, “Where is God?”
Can we find God in the midst of the difficult seasons of our lives?
A conversation with my friend Father Taylor Albright from Trinity Church Tariffville.
Strength in Weakness
Today I had the opportunity to share lunch with a great group of pastors in the Kennett Square Community.
Over lunch, we shared about the past few years and lessons learned while traveling in a most unique season.
Some takeaways:
- Life has not been easy, people (ourselves included) are still struggling to understand what was, and what will be.
- In the midst of chaos, God has been gracious and we have witnessed amazing growth in people (ourselves included).
- While unsure of exactly what the future holds, we are excited for the opportunity to be a part of what the Spirit is doing.
- We have all found strength in the midst of weakness.
Earlier this week Father Richard Rohr shared a meditation that spoke of A Spirituality of Imperfection, Strength in Weakness. His words rang very true and spoke to my experience over the past six years. In the midst of weakness, the Spirit has been strong and I have seen amazing things.
The blessings I have received over the past six years have been there because, not in spite, of my weakness. It feels as if the weaker I become, the stronger the Spirit moves.
In truth, what is happening is I am getting myself out of the way and allowing the Spirit to work freely.
Where I once sought to be in control and portray a sense of strength and power that facade has been removed. Less of me, more of the Spirit.
As the Apostle Paul says, “It is when I am weak that I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:10
On the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month, I host a small group that meets via ZOOM – Tuesday Night Reflections.
After a time of gathering I present a brief meditation followed by a time of discussion and sharing.
If you want to join in send me a msg and I will get you the ZOOM link.
This past Tuesday I shared about finding strength in weakness.
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