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Chaplain Joan Keiser on finding a “high spot”
Flying Above the "Storms of Life"
"Those
who wait for the Lord shall renew
their strength,
they shall mount up with wings like eagles."
Isaiah 40:31
Our world, our country, indeed my own state have been hit by many “storms” lately. In the spring, we expect and try to anticipate those storms and make plans to prepare and protect ourselves. Many of our communities have tornado warning sirens to alert us to a storm. Others do not and may find themselves in the midst of a storm without warning.
I have read that an eagle knows when a storm is approaching and will fly to some “high spot” and wait for the winds to come. When the storm hits, it sets its wings so that the wind will pick it up and lift it above the storm. While the storm rages below, the eagle is soaring above it.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we, like the eagles, could know when a “storm” is approaching our lives? If we could find a way to “set our wings” and let the wind pick us up and enable us to “fly above the storm”?
In 1992, I found myself in the midst of a storm when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. A storm had indeed hit my life.
The “high spot” for me was God. My faith, my family, my church family and my pastor sheltered me, too. When my storm hit, I was able to fly above it with God’s help. I was held gently and rested in His wings.
The eagle does not escape the storm and neither do we. I used the “storm” to lift me higher and closer to God. God enabled me to ride out that storm and provided me with medical knowledge and technology to conquer the disease. It was not an easy journey but God reminded me I did not journey alone. He surrounded me with loving, caring people along the pathway.
Patients and family members I minister to in the neuro-trauma area are in the midst of a storm in their lives. They did not have any warning of a storm approaching. They wonder how they can rise above it. How can they find a “high spot?”
I read a story about an elderly lady who felt like giving up on life. As she prayed, the words of the scripture in Isaiah 40:31 filled her mind but she felt she didn’t have the strength to “fly above the storm.” Then, she heard God say: “Yes, you can. The eagle has two wings and so have you. One is your own will power; the other is help from above . . . now get busy and fly over the storm.”
As Chaplains, we can be a presence and help patients find a “high spot” as they ride the winds of the storms that can bring sickness, tragedy, failure and, perhaps, disappointment.
Chaplain Joan Keiser has been the chaplain at St. John's Hospital, Springfield, MO, for the past 10 years. She completed her four units of CPE at St. John's Hospital Joan has a certificate of Religious Studies from Loyola Institute for Ministry, Loyola University, New Orleans. She is a Certified Lay Speaker and is commissioned as Lay Missioner with The United Methodist Church, Missouri Conference. Her areas of hospital ministry are: Neuro-Trauma ICU, Neuro-Intermediate/Stroke Center, Breast Center,and Endoscopy. Joan also serves on the Springfield Stroke Coalition and is a member of the Mid-America Transplant Collaborative for Organ Donation, representing St. John's Hospital. She is currently applying for Board certification. She is married, has two children and six grandchildren.
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