From Chaplains to Chaplains
Chaplains Corner
A place for Chaplains to encourage other Chaplains
Maximize your chaplaincy self-care by also engaging with other chaplain’s communication. We hope if you are a volunteer or case worker practicing chaplaincy skills, you may also find encouragement in each Corner Communication.
Read the works of chaplains and/or submit your own words of comfort or encouragement to Living Shield Ministries for review and use in an upcoming Corner Communication.
Corner Communications
Woman in the crowd…
Chaplain Lynne writes:
There is a story in the Bible that reflects a woman with what may have been unrecognized grief and trauma.
We don’t even know her name, …
All we know is she had been bleeding for twelve years and that all of her money had been spent on physicians who had not helped her.
Culturally, she was an outcast and neglected, considered unclean, and that status would have left her lonely, poor, and isolated. While she battled the grief and agony of her disease, she would have also been deep in sorrow for the life she longed for.
Grieving…, surviving daily with unrecognized trauma.
I imagine her. Isolated in a room. Alone in her sorrow. Was there a window? A bed? Did anyone ever check in on her?
As a chaplain, we know that Grief is not an experience reserved for death. It’s the human response to loss. And our sister, bleeding for twelve years, had lost so much.
My Bible tells me in Matthew 9:21, she thought, “If I just touch the hem of His garment, I will be healed.”
Faith. It’s what motivated her. Faith rooted in Hope and covered in courage.
She reached for Him. The Bible tells us, “Jesus immediately felt power leave Him, and He turned. Looking for her. “Who touched me?” he asked. I imagine His voice was gentle. The ears of my heart hear His love. He knew who touched Him. He always knows. His eyes met hers as He combed the crowd for His hurting child. Others may not have seen her sorrow. But Jesus did. He knows grief when He sees it. And then, after a brief exchange, Jesus heals her and sets her free. In a beautiful display of compassion and kindness, Jesus calls her “Daughter.”
Formerly nameless, isolated, grieving her pain and the place it now put her in society… on that day, He called her Daughter. Because he took the moment to be “with” her, her life changed.
Because that’s what He does. He sees us, gives us a new name, and sets us free. Whatever we’ve been through, God has time for us. Whatever hard story and painful history we carry, there is healing.
How many of the people that we encounter day to day are living with unrecognized grief? Undisclosed trauma?
Chaplain, are you turning to look to see who needs to be supported and to be recognized?
Can you be present for them? When they step out in courage to reach out to you, will you meet them with hope, compassion and patience? Will you be “with” them?
“For she said to herself, ‘If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.’ ” ~ Matthew 9:21 NKJV
Woman in the crowd...
Explore common dynamics about the role of chaplaincy and consider how to improve essential skills.
Symptoms
Symptoms of undisclosed grief and trauma
- Anger
- Frustration
- Overly Emotional reactions
- Lack of trust
- Lack of emotion/depression
- Physical responses
- Eating issues, too much, too little
- Sleeping issues, too much, too little
- Health issues
Interventions
How to build interventions
- Establish trust
- Be fully present
- Recognize them as a person
- Be a safe place for their emotions
- Be Honest
- Do not judge
- Follow the S.H.I.E.L.D. method
Cautions
Ways to Destroy the Intervention . . .
- Not being available
- Not present with them
- Judging them
- Poor listening
- Interrogating them with too many questions
- Interrupting them
- Making then breaking promises
No Results Found
The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.
Corner Opportunities
Contribute to the Corner
We are currently collecting one-page encouraging messages to be shared in future editions of the Chaplains Corner. A Living Shield Ministries board member will evaluate the submission and decide when to use it, after communicating back with you.
A Path Forward
At times someone helps us on the path of chaplaincy in an encouraging way. Here is an opportunity to help other chaplains. Consider sponsoring a chaplain you know to attend the School of Chaplaincy.
Add Light to the Corner
Light the way for poor prospective chaplains by contributing to the scholarship fund used by Living Shield Ministries to help educate more chaplains. Help a student start class with a scholarship.
Join the School of Chaplaincy
We are all “works-in-progress”. Take a major step towards enhancing your listening skills and get updated on the latest information for Chaplains. Practice what you’ve learned and/or will learn with others that share the same interest, so you can better share your experiences with your community. Together, we can make a difference.