Are You Ready?

Abstract

This is a reflection on being a chaplain. This reflection is an expression of the many emotional challenges I have encountered on any given day. This reflection could also be used to help new chaplains assimilate into the ministry.

Keywords

Chaplain reflection are you ready?

Are you ready to walk in the ways of the Lord?

Are you ready? Are you really ready?

Are you ready to catch the tears of a mother as she looks into the face of her lifeless child?

Are you ready to hold the grief of a man who has lost his wife of 48 years?

Are you ready to embrace the pain of a family?

Are you ready to bring comfort to those who are educated in bringing physical heeling daily?

Are you ready to stand in the chaos of a sister or brother who has lost their mind to the demons of mental illness or drugs or alcohol?

Are you ready to stand in the messiness of life?

Are you ready to walk alongside and befriend grief, pain, suffering, sorrow, despair and death?

Are you ready to have your theology and embedded beliefs challenged, are you ready to define yourself by discovering and rediscovering yourself, are you ready to expand your mind?

Are you ready to hold on to the last stages of salvation without a savior?

Are you ready to be a silent revolutionary for the Lord?

Are you ready? Because today I’m not ready for this. Today I am unsure, unprepared, unwilling, and unable to stand in the reality of the normality of this day. Today I am weak.

Because I am unsure today and every day, I have to stand in the assurance of the almighty, omnipresent, omnificent, never changing guiding presence of God. The one who has given me the ability to stand and be present, attentive, compassionate, patient, sympathetic, empathic, kind, and loving, I stand in the presence of the one who has given me the ability to walk hand in hand with my Savior in the valleys of the shadows of death of others.