Nebraska Synod ELCA

Written by Pastor Joyce A. Miller, Chaplain at The Nebraska Medical Center

I knock gently on the door and announce my presence. I do not know the person in the room, and she does not know me. She looks at me with squinting eyes and suspiciously asks who I am. I explain that I am a hospital chaplain, a hospital pastor. The patient firmly responds. Don’t touch me, I don’t want anything. I want to leave…now! Her husband intercedes on my behalf. It has become clear to me that I’m likely meeting a woman who has dementia. The anxiety and confusion are obvious. Despite the warm room, she is swaddled in blankets. I let her know that I don’t want anything, I am visiting her as a pastor. She returns to her insistence on leaving. I tell her we are working with her to help her feel better. She begins to relax. I affirm the difficulty of her situation and she begins to tell me her thoughts, feelings, and memories. I ended our visit with an offer to pray. She readily accepted. She joined me as I prayed the Lord’s Prayer, and so did her husband. This woman’s soul was twinkling with hope when I left the room. You know that picture of the Jesus with light brown hair, knocking on the closed door? This woman opened it and let him in.

Some visits do not go so well. I’m frequently called to the Emergency Department after bad things happen. I sit with patients of their families after tragedy strikes. The stakes are high and so are emotions. I listen to shouting, screaming, and wailing. Some people fall to the floor. Some people slam doors. some people punch walls. My colleagues who work in Public Safety have my back. We work together as a caring community on the other side of doors that no one wants to enter unless tragedy strikes. I’m thankful people know where they can get help.

I regularly walk through doors to meet patients and their families when death is approaching. I stand in place of weeping, wailing, and gentle tears. Sometimes gentle joy and laughter are mingled with sadness as families remember special times when the patient was fully alive. I have been with “unresponsive” patients who move their lips as we all pray together. Witnessing people cross the threshold is indeed a holy time.

On weekends. I’m a supply pastor—a substitute preacher. I’m often in places where a pastor has left for a new call, or has retired, or has left for sabbatical or vacation. I have the honor and joy of being with the gathered faithful and preaching good news and inviting people to a Holy Meal.  I walk through the doors and most of the time, I receive a warm welcome. Sometimes, congregations greet me with a bit of suspicion or sadness. I hope and pray that the time they spend in worship can alleviate some of the burdens they carry. My schedule is busy and sometimes I’m tired from my long week at the hospital. I continue to supply preach. Why? I preach because being with congregations in Iowa and Nebraska gives me joy. I don’t always have the right words, but the Spirit moves and gives me new insights and words to declare Good News.

In walking with people during the darkest times of their lives, I know that God is present. I know with my heart and soul, “A light shines in the darkness and the darkness does not overcome it.” May my yes, and yours, continue to be guided by Divine Light was we journey.