Yesterday I went to the hospital to visit a retired employee of Lynchburg College. I’ll refer to her here as “Blanche” in order to protect her privacy. She worked at Lynchburg College for many years. Although I had never met Blanche until yesterday, I had heard many endearing things about her. She loved her time at LC before retiring and returned often to visit and see friends and colleagues.
Blanche suffered a major stroke earlier this week and is currently recovering. What struck me the minute I entered the room was her sweet face yet inherent struggle to get better. I went up to her to say hello and introduce myself. At this point, I’m not sure if she knew I was there or not. Two friends were also there and assured me that Blanche was aware of my presence.
Seeing Blanche made me think about the life she had led to this point and all the many lives she must have touched. It’s as if holding her hand gave me insight into a whole other life that I needed and wanted to know about. What legacy did Blanche leave behind while at LC? Who is her family? What are her passions? What means the most to her? What can I learn from her?
Often we meet people in our lives in passing. Do we take the opportunity to hear their stories? To share ours? We can be so busy day-to-day that we fail to see the gifts in each other. The wisdom and love shared between strangers and/or friends can be so powerful. If there is one thing I have grown to appreciate, it is the ministry of presence. Opening ourselves to others can be a vulnerable thing but it allows for so much growth and joy. Whether listening or sharing, we gain insights into the human experience. We are all linked in our humanity.
We are so blessed here at LC to be a part of an extended family made up of students, faculty, staff, alumni, retired personnel and those who have departed this world. It is up to each of us to take advantage of interacting with as many of our “family members” as we can to reap the benefits of knowledge, wisdom, friendships, joy, sorrow, and the grace that abounds in each.
Before leaving Blanche’s room, we gathered in prayer around her, holding hands in a circle. I let her know that her LC family loves her and is praying for her. She squeezed my hand, and we lifted our hands together in a gesture that let me know she heard our prayer. Tears welled up in my eyes and I made a promise to myself. As Blanche recovers and is able to go home, I hope to hear her story and share mine as sisters of LC.
Kaky Bowden