Question for Reflection - Saint Joseph Hospital

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I Have Seen the Face of God S a c r e d S t o r i e s One afternoon I received a call from Father John. He was concerned about a gentleman he often saw in the neighborhood. All that Father John really knew about “Bear” was that he lived above one of the neighborhood bars, was in poor health and was a very nice man. “Bear is about my age,” said Father John, who is 72. “This morning, he said that if he had had all of his medications last night, he would have taken them to end it all. Can you help him?” When I arrived at the bar, a tall, thin gentleman with a scruffy beard and slightly graying bushy hair met me. When I asked, “Bear?” he smiled and said, “You called me by my nickname!” Bear, whose given name is Thomas, confirmed that he was so depressed that he would have ended his life the night before except he didn’t have the means. Bear was willing to go to the hospital. On the way, he told me that he was 57 years old, but he looked every bit of the 72 years Father John had described — the result of years of drug and alcohol abuse. He also had heart disease. There was something special about this man that touched my heart and soul deeply; why, I did not yet know. When we arrived at the hospital, he refused to use a wheelchair. I had the feeling he was afraid that I would abandon him if I left to find a wheelchair. When we arrived at the Emergency Department triage desk, Bear said, “I can’t stand anymore; I am going to fall.” Two women in the waiting room helped me hold him up while the receptionist got a wheelchair. The triage nurse checked his vital signs and took a brief history before whisking him to the critical care area of the ED. She then took me to see the ED social worker, Betty. The nurse said to Betty, “You know it takes a lot for someone to tug at my heart, but this man surely does.” 48
Later, as I sat in the waiting room, I reflected on my short time with Bear. What was it about him that filled me with a peace beyond my understanding? I thought of what the nurse said, and suddenly I knew — I had seen the face of God in this seemingly broken, yet very kind and gentle man. May he be blessed for the gift he is to others. S a c r e d S t o r i e s Sr. Phyllis Kemper, RN TriHealth Parish Nursing Cincinnati, Ohio “You know it takes a lot for someone to tug at my heart, but this man surely does.” Questions for Reflection How do you respond to Sr. Phyllis’ question and her answer: what is it about Bear and all the persons in our lives who “fill us with a peace beyond our understanding?” In which seemingly broken persons do you see the face of God? How do you respond? 49
Page 1: S a Tenth c Edition r e d s t o r i
Page 4 and 5: T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S Forwa
Page 6 and 7: F o r e w o r d “I am always amaz
Page 8 and 9: Blessings in the Midst of Disaster
Page 10 and 11: No Big Deal S a c r e d S t o r i e
Page 12 and 13: Caring for Oscar S a c r e d S t o
Page 14 and 15: My Guardian, Dear S a c r e d S t o
Page 16 and 17: A Human and International Connectio
Page 18 and 19: Every Day Since That One Has Been G
Page 20 and 21: The Twins’ Baptism S a c r e d S
Page 22 and 23: Gone but Not Forgotten S a c r e d
Page 24 and 25: Life and Death S a c r e d S t o r
Page 26 and 27: Who Chaplains Are and What Chaplain
Page 28 and 29: The Old Elevator S a c r e d S t o
Page 30 and 31: Fixing St. Lucia S a c r e d S t o
Page 32 and 33: This is the Day That the Lord Has M
Page 34 and 35: Wrapped in Prayer S a c r e d S t o
Page 36 and 37: The Compassionate Call S a c r e d
Page 38 and 39: Boots to Buckles S a c r e d S t o
Page 40 and 41: Walk With Me, Lord S a c r e d S t
Page 42 and 43: A Labor of Love S a c r e d S t o r
Page 44 and 45: The Jesse Tree S a c r e d S t o r
Page 46 and 47: The Cross is in His Safekeeping S a
Page 48 and 49: What About Bob? S a c r e d S t o r
Page 52 and 53: Pain Relief S a c r e d S t o r i e
Page 54 and 55: Putting a Face on the Data S a c r
Page 56 and 57: A Husband’s Prayer S a c r e d S
Page 58 and 59: Leaving This Earth Clean S a c r e
Page 60 and 61: Busy Angels — A Holiday Story S a
Page 62 and 63: Boys Will Be Boys S a c r e d S t o
Page 64 and 65: Paul S a c r e d S t o r i e s Some
Page 66 and 67: I Can Draw Fishes Real Good S a c r
Page 68 and 69: Praying With My Patient S a c r e d
Page 70 and 71: A Last Goodbye S a c r e d S t o r
Page 72 and 73: God Put Our Young Patient on Our He
Page 74 and 75: Family Taking Care of Family S a c
Page 76 and 77: Try a Labyrinth S a c r e d S t o r
Page 78 and 79: Ice Cream: Good for the Soul S a c
Page 80 and 81: A Choice to Make S a c r e d S t o
Page 82 and 83: Marty ’s Story S a c r e d S t o
Page 84 and 85: Bagpipes S a c r e d S t o r i e s
Page 86 and 87: Transformed by Roses S a c r e d S
Page 88 and 89: A Grace Experienced S a c r e d S t
Page 90 and 91: Just a Closer Walk With Thee S a c
Page 92 and 93: A Wealth of Experience S a c r e d
Page 94: The Sacred Story About My Dad S a c

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