Closed Door

8/30/2016

I noted that Len's door was still closed as it had been every time I came to the Hospice House. I asked about him.

The nurses explained he was so medically compromised that he refused to spend any time with a stranger, fearing the embarrassment of having an accident. I inwardly cringed. No wonder this poor man isolated himself.

Something made me want to give him music. But I was a stranger.

I cannot fully explain the "something" that made me want to give music to the very ill, the very private Len.

Have you had similar unexplained "somethings" urge you on? What happened?

2 Comments

Joseph Matney link

1/21/2016 09:02:29 am

A Story about Caring: Caritas Clowns Take the Plunge jsm Aug '95, rev 11/'13

Jesus is speaking, “ ... I tell you, in heaven the angels continually see (in all God’s children) the face of my Father in heaven. “ Matthew 18: 8

On a Wednesday evening in 1995, the Caritas Clowns, our little clown care unit, Amore(Lin), Filly(Eileen), Joey(Joe), went to the Hermitage acute care clinic to visit with the elderly residents, their visitors and the staff. This visit was our first as a clown care group, we were “taking the plunge”. All of us were running late for various reasons, but we got there in time to visit with the residents of all five floors. Such a gift to be able to care, simply care. After our visit we came back to the car and our prayer of thankfulness was “ Yea, God! “.

One major learning for me came from watching Amore interact with each person. No matter their connection or ability to respond -- some were quite apart in their own thoughts -- Amore showed them deep respect and gave them her full attention. Amore would sit with each person, hold their hand or not as was their preference, and simply remain silent for several minutes. An important lesson.

Within each face, each body, no matter how broken, within each heart and mind, no matter how detached or inaccessible, --- there resides a beloved child of God. A person called by name, precious in the Holy One’s sight, and deeply loved. As humble representatives of God’s extravagant caritas, we are called to be ever mindful of all this and respond accordingly.

These are God’s ways. Yea, God!

Robin Gaiser

1/26/2016 08:06:36 pm

Joe, I have been imagining the Caritas Clowns all week since you sent the story. Beautiful. Yes, presence, seeing God's face in every person, old, new, infirmed, well.

And I am thinking you were"Joey." Yea, God!

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