I learned early in my experience as an intern hospital chaplain that you never know where God will show up next.
And working as a chaplain in a hospital you get used to the fact that you are a sort of a "catch-all" professional to most of the staff who doesn't quite understand what chaplain does. ... In fact, there were days I found myself performing the functions of a social worker, counselor and de facto legal aide in some ways, although I was very careful never to overstep my bounds.
And then there were days where I would get paged to come to the hospital's main desk, and I wouldn't know what to expect.
Well, one day, a beautiful autumn Saturday afternoon, I received such a page.
I finished up the charting that I was working on, and proceeded to the main lobby. When I arrived, just outside the sliding glass doors, I saw a whole gaggle of leather clad, bandanna-wearing motorcycle riders. ... I couldn't imagine why it was they were requesting a chaplain.
Well, turns out that the motorcycle "gang" was a group called the "Christian Motorcyclists Association," and the many members present that day had traveled from all over Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota to the Sanford Medical Centers in both Sioux Falls, S.D., and Fargo, N.D., (where I was stationed) to deliver boxes full of toys, coloring books, stuffed pillows and much more to children's hospitals contained with both larger facilities.
Well, when they arrived, the receptionist at the hospital's front desk didn't quite know what to do with the group, as they arrived unexpectedly. ... Really, no one knew they were coming! ... So, she mulled it over and called for the chaplain on duty, who was none other than me.
Once I assessed the situation, I contacted the appropriate marketing folks and administrators who needed to be involved. But, as chaplain on duty, I also got to tag along to pray over the donations, and go with the group to tour the hospital's children's play area known as Cully's Kids Cabin, named for a local hockey player who made it big in the National Hockey League for a number of years.
I had the good blessing to be involved in countless situations in which I saw the Holy Spirit make her presence known in my five months of chaplaincy, but this was among the handful of memories that shine. A hospital chaplain's work -- especially in the Emergency Room and Trauma Unit where I was based -- most often isn't sunshine and roses because, after all, you are in the Emergency Room or Trauma Unit for a reason. But this was one of those joyous Spirit-filled moments that made my time at the hospital so enjoyable.
Before the group was led on a tour of the children's hospital, the group's leader led a blessing over the donated toys, and I was allowed to participate. And what poured from his lips was beautiful.
"... And father we pray for each of these items that are before us that have been brought here, that the kids' lives that they go to be touched and blessed in a very special way, Father. And we thank you, Lord, that we can lift these kids up before you with different sicknesses and illness that they are dealing with. And Father we pray for these kids and lift them up before you as they receive these things. And, Lord, we just always ask for healing and we come before you to do that for each on of these kids, and lift them up. In your precious name, we lift up Sanford and the staff and we pray for them too."
What a special day that was, and in the midst of the sea of tragedy that often accompanied my time at Sanford, this was definitely one of those events that help me find the faith!
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