Chaplain's Corner

A reality I encounter every day in my work is uncertainty. One of the first questions I often ask as I spend time with patients in the hospital is, “What brings you to the hospital?” Occasionally a patient will misunderstand the question and look at me with puzzlement and answer, “the ambulance”. But usually the answer will have something to do with some physical problem the person is experiencing. When the problem is chronic, the patient is usually pretty well informed and aware of the purpose of the hospitalization. But for many the answer is simply, I wasn’t feeling good”; followed by an explanation of the symptoms being experienced.

Now, you might wonder why I care about a person’s medical diagnosis. I care because often this is the gateway into understanding how their medical condition is impacting their spiritual condition. It isn’t unusual for the discussion to lead to uncertainty, “I’m not sure what is happening to me.” Usually a few tests and the doctor is able to explain what is at the root of the problem, treat it and the patient is on the way home: Uncertainly resolved. But, even in our day when we have made so many advancements in medicine there are medical problems that leave doctors scratching their heads. In these cases the uncertainty deepens.

Now interestingly, we live with uncertainty every moment of every day. When I get up this morning I really didn’t know what the day would bring. But I am fairly certain that like most every other day I will drive to Steinbach, spend 8 hours working at Bethesda Regional Health Centre and then drive home. You see, although we really can’t be certain about the future, most of the time our days are pretty predictable, so this uncertainty doesn’t really bother most of us.

It is when the fairly predictable gets disrupted that we feel the uncertainty. When we get sick enough to come to the Emergency Department of the hospital, we feel that uncertainty in a number of ways. Some of us get quite anxious with the uncertainty. Our minds begin to spin; we come up with a whole host of possibilities as to what might be going on and sometimes that anxiety really gets a grip on us.

Some of us deal with the uncertainty by trying to think positive. “Oh, this is nothing to worry about, probably no big deal. I’m sure the doctor won’t find anything of consequence; probably much ado about nothing.” While others of us look to others for affirmation, “I’m going to be OK aren’t I?”

People of faith aren’t immune to the feelings that come with uncertainty. Some find that prayer calms their anxious thoughts. Others find that reminding themselves of God’s care is helpful. Sometimes we think a good stern “trust God” will do the trick. I haven’t found this helpful at all. Mo work is all about helping people find their way through the uncertainties. I cannot give those I care for courage, I certainly cannot take away the uncertainty that exists in their lives, but I have learned over the years that one of the most helpful things I offer people in the midst of their uncertainty is company. Being willing to step into the uncertainty of another person’s life and to stand with them as they wait for answers can be spiritually healing.

When we are not alone in the face of uncertainty, when someone will stand with us, and accompany us through the uncertainty, it often stirs courage from within the one we are caring for. Far from resolving or rescuing the other from the uncertainty a willingness to step into another’s vulnerability, to feel their weakness, to be touched by their worry, to join them on the journey through is can be most helpful.