As one of the Chaplains, I suppose I should not be as surprised as I am when someone thanks me for a small gesture of concern or care. But I am constantly surprised by which gestures someone finds meaningful and by what folks remember, particularly what folks remember from times of grief or crisis. I think I do my part of the pastoral care on campus, but I also work with a great team:\u00a0 Anne Gibbons is legendary, Kaky Bowden and Kay Higgins assist as Pastoral Associates, and Katrina Brooks is the Campus Pastor and works with Sunday IF worship. In addition, Andrea Roth works with Hillel students, and several \u201cministry partners\u201d from outside ministries serve our students as well. At the hub, Christie Rapp tries valiantly with her student assistants to keep the team organized and in communication.<\/p>\n
So the Pastoral Care Team is quite a mixture of trainings, degrees, and experiences. Some of us are full time, others are very part time, but we are committed to the care of students (along with faculty and staff) and to being with folks when they need it. We are taught that we should offer a \u201cnon-anxious pastoral presence.\u201d Really being a non-anxious presence should be very simple. Sitting with someone, paying attention to them only, listening, helping to interpret and hearing the other voices in the room. The reality is that it is often more difficult. We want to \u201cfix\u201d things. We want to stop folks from hurting. I also struggle to disengage from the pressures of life in order to be fully with someone. At the hospital with students we are sometimes surrogate parents, often advocates, and shepherds through the medical process. We know some of the terminology, so we can help explain what is going on and act like the next level of testing is completely normal. We know where the heated blankets are and how to get them from the volunteers in the green coats. But the true reasons we are there are to be calm, to offer hope and to remind folks that we are all part of a community that cares for each person. Do not confuse a non-anxious presence with the idea of staying cool under pressure. (Never let \u2019em see you sweat.)\u00a0 A non-anxious presence is a true state of inner calm.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s what the \u201cprofessional\u201d pastoral care staff on campus aims to do. But those small gestures that people find meaningful in times of illness or crisis are probably more likely to be offered by a friend, roommate, faculty member, colleague or classmate. Thank you for being community for each other.<\/p>\n
Blessings,<\/p>\n
Stephanie<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
As one of the Chaplains, I suppose I should not be as surprised as I am when someone thanks me for a small gesture of concern or care. But I am constantly surprised by which gestures someone finds meaningful and …<\/p>\n