Volunteers, the heart of our
ministry
Photos: May 14-16 Houston "Creating A Healing
Community" Workshop 
Framing
"Success" in Spiritual Care
by Paul Riddle
One recent afternoon I was having lunch with a woman
who was interested in becoming a Lifeline pastoral
care volunteer. At one point in the conversation,
an expression of thoughtfulness, mixed with a little
concern, came across her face. "You look pensive.
What's on your mind?" I asked. "I was just
wondering," she replied, "How do you know
when a visit has been a success?"
I thought for a moment and said, "If you communicate
the love and care of God to the person you're with,
through your presence, the visit is a success."
My conversation partner's face brightened, and she
looked relieved. "I can do that!" she declared.
My friend was worried that she would be expected to
offer deep words of wisdom, or have answers to her
patients' profound spiritual questions, and she was
afraid she might not be up to the task. It was liberating
to her to hear that all she had to do was show up
and care - that her presence (actually God's presence
in her) was the critical component of the care she
would offer patients.
It seems to me that presence is what spiritual care
is all about. We have the impulse to care because
of God's presence within us - and because of our awareness
of God's presence for us at many points in our lives.
Our presence with patients and their families provides
a tangible reminder of God's presence with them .
May each of us be open to God's presence, and open
to the opportunities God places before us to be present
with and for others.
