Poem: Behind the Door

We are called to minister.
What will we find behind the patient's door?
A human being with fear or apprehension?
One never knows exactly what we will find.
But what about us?
Are we open, warm, reassuring?
Are we able to calm the patient's turmoil?

Someone said, "When you go behind that door,
You are the God person."
"Dear God," we say, "make me an instrument of your love.
Help me to find words of meaning in this moment.
Teach me to listen with compassion.
Teach me to bring the patient closer to you,
if that is their desire."

Being called the "God person"
can be frightening: I am not worthy.
But you walked this earth like all of us.
You felt pain, you comforted the afflicted,
You healed the sick, but most of all,
You showed your love and forgiveness.
I shall not fear, you are with me.

I sit here this day on the windowsill
and get a new perspective
of how the patient sees a steady stream
of doctors, nurses, social workers,
of nutritionists, respiratory therapists, and...
Whew! It is all confusing and overwhelming.
But I will wait. I am not in a hurry.

I will wait, I will be with you.
I do not have an agenda with IV's,
or vital signs, or infusion therapy.
No, I am here to be present to
and with you on your journey.
Behind the door