Chaplain Lynne writes:
Have you ever driven the “Road to the Sun” in Montana?
It is a demanding road, in high mountainous terrain. Deep drops appear on each side at times and it is windy, narrow and only open during certain times of the year. It is also beautiful and scenic. Yet the demanding road requires total attention for most of the drive. Fortunately, there are turnouts and scenic viewpoints in many places.
A turnout (a pull-off for rest) is actually a purposeful “Wide” place in the journey.
A place to pull over and stop for a time; a place for a moment’s re-gathering in the journey… To catch your breath, before you continue you on. To meet your physical needs, as well as your mind and focus.
The harder and more treacherous the journey, the more the Wide Place is appreciated and needed.
We have found that for people who are in the midst of the arduous journey of grief and trauma, in pain and caught off guard by the crisis before them, they too need a wide place in the midst their journey.
A safe place
A Breathing place
A Calming space
A Nourishing place
A lift your eyes to the heavens place and breathe deeply, taking in what is around you.
Before they continue on the journey.
Chaplains create that “Wide place” for them in the midst of their crisis.
A wide place doesn’t change the journeys path, only how you cope in the midst of it.
A wide place is a safe resting place for a moments respite in the hard journey The journey does not really change, it’s still hard. It can be disorienting, making the terrain… the world they are in the midst of… feel foreign. Their pain creates distance between them and God. He feels distant and unknown; they feel isolated from God, with a crushed spirit within and the paralysis pain creates.
But the wide place provides the safety to breathe and be calmer. To have a safe place to seek out the questions the pain the journey before them creates, and to have a compassionate companion to be present with them in the midst.
Chaplain, are you a Wide Place? Do you create that nourishing place? (please click here to go to comments to add prayer request)
Blessings, Chaplain Lynne
“to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God…” ~ Ephesians 3:19 NKJV
A Wide Place
Explore common questions about the role of chaplaincy and how to improve these essential skills.
How do you create a wide place for a hurting person…?
Purpose – know your purpose, it’s not to change the journey path, but to walk the journey with them and keep them moving forward in the midst. To redirect to opportunities for a wide place and safety
Presence – be present with them, stay with them, hear their voice, be the safe place where they can speak frankly the wounds they are experiencing.
Compassion – make sure you meet the persons practical needs- physical safety, food, drink, warmth, using this as an opportunity of having eyes to see their needs.
Silence – offering them the space to hear what the experience is saying and sitting quietly with them as they share. Intent attention. Gentle words when needed by the person.
Peace – bring your personal peace in a peaceful presence with attentive intent to help create opportunity for peace to grow in the midst of the situation, and then grow to engagement.
Psalms 18:19 NKJV
Psalms 18:19 NKJV
He also brought me out into a wide place; He delivered me because He delighted in me.
II Samuel 22:20 NKJV
II Samuel 22:20 NKJV
He also brought me out into a broad place; He delivered me because He delighted in me.
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