Responses to the imperative that we write about what we do

Responses to Learning from the Fingerprints on Our Hearts

Editor's note: In an effort to keep this conversation going, we decided to post the comments to "Learning from the Fingerprints on Our Hearts" here and not in TalkBack. It is my hope that our readers will take seriously this challenge and begin to document what it is we do and how we do it. As one responder put it: "Chaplains are silent witnesses and what a gift it is to be able to share how we find ourselves in the presence of the Divine."

The image of the chaplain arriving in the hospital chapel by happenstance and the flood of memories that a quiet space evokes, opened within me a storehouse of rich memories. In the middle of a full and busy day, I stopped for just a moment to catalog my own similar experiences with patients, family and staff that I had encountered as a chaplain. Professional Chaplaincy indeed, gives us that gift.

Like a child home from Halloween night trick-or-treating, I could have spent the rest of the article savoring this collection of life’s lessons learned, but Martha Jacobs raises greater concerns for the future of chaplaincy. Noting the wealth of our experience, she rightfully points out the vacuum of literature to document what we’ve learned. Her challenge to all of us is undeniably true, “We need to grow our body of work so that we can not only claim our rightful place alongside our medical, nursing and social work colleagues, but continue to grow and serve our teachers – our patients, families, and hospital personnel.”

As a profession we have recently made significant strides to be recognized for the work we do. Now that we have a seat at the table, it is time for us to have something to offer alongside our colleagues. In terms of quality, no other discipline has the depth of training and clinical experience dealing with religious and spiritual issues than professional board certified chaplains. Our CPE training, our interfaith models of care and our professional ethics make us uniquely suited to champion the spiritual dimensions of care and speak/write from an informed position. Thank you, Martha, for reminding us that we have been given a wealth of learning, and for challenging us to further our profession through the discipline of writing.

The Rev. Jon A. Overvold, M.Div., BCC
Chair, APC Quality Commission
Director of Pastoral Care and Education
North Shore University Hospital
Manhasset, NY

I just read Rev Dr. Martha Jacobs article, "Learning from the Fingerprints on Our Hearts." I could not agree more!

Others are telling the story of spiritual care. Our colleagues in nursing and medicine are publishing research and documenting the inspirational stories regarding the power of the spiritual in the healing process. Chaplains are, for the most part, silent. I am a member of the editorial board of Vision, the NACC publication, and a frequent contributor to the same. As a board we struggle to find chaplains willing to contribute to the publication.

I'd like to take expand the notion of writing. Chaplains must document patient encounters and interventions! In spite of charting being a minimum standard of care, the vast majority of chaplains do not chart in the medical record. Chaplains can begin to claim their rightful place on the interdisciplinary team by charting their patient interventions using the venue in place in their settings. Skillfully written chart notes forwarded to physicians and others on the care team makes chaplaincy visible within the institutional setting. Its primary value is the difference it makes to patient care.

I applaud your article. I pray that others take it to heart and pick up their pens or boot up their computers and start writing!

Linda F. Piotrowski, MTS, NACC Certified
Pastoral Care Coordinator/Chaplain
Palliative Care/Norris Cotton Cancer Center
Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center
One Medical Center Drive
Lebanon, NH

Martha, I just wanted to say thanks for the excellent issue of PlainViews which arrived today and I read immediately. I especially liked your article regarding your memories of your first CPE experience as you reflected upon it in the chapel. My own memories of CPE experiences came back as I resonated with you and your musings. Remembering is truly a way to honor those who we have walked with, cried with, and stood beside in that experience of being on "sacred ground". Now that I am retired all I have are those memories, and they are often what give my day meaning and purpose. It is humbling to ponder how I have made a difference in someone's life just by being there, and perhaps simply saying a prayer.

For eight years during my ministry as Chaplain at Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage, I would annually receive an anonymous note from a woman who had requested a chaplain to come and pray with her and her husband before she had surgery for Cancer. She and her husband would come by the hospital, in the following years, and drop off the "Thank You" note when I was not in the office. Just before I retired I was able to identify the patient, and I was able to thank her for her kind thoughts, and annual notes. It is very humbling to actually know that my ministry had had such an effect in her life. Thanks for the opportunity to share these thoughts.

Jim Stephens BCC Retired Life Member
Anchorage, Alaska

I applaud the recent excellent article by the Editor of PlainViews, the Rev. Dr. Martha R. Jacobs, in the Advocacy section, “Learning from the Fingerprints on Our Hearts.” It reminded me once again, how important it is to name and claim who we are as chaplains and pastoral caregivers.

We readily admit how important our work is to others and to ourselves. We know inwardly within our souls, and outwardly (because we are often told) how we “make a difference” in people’ lives. We bring spiritual healing; we lift up people when they are down; we are there to walk with them in the narrow places.
Doing the good work we do is vital. Spreading that word, describing our activities is likewise important. We do this not to be self-serving, not to brag, but because our work is crucial to the wellbeing of so many.

In their proper place modesty and humility have value. On the other hand, if people are not aware what we are doing, should we fault them for not appreciating our significant contribution?
Stories can be powerful tools for conveying messages. Consider the sacred literature of the world’s religions. Often through stories about women and men, seminal lessons teach the values of that tradition.

Stories inspire. Stories encourage. Stories motivate us and they motivate others. Please, as Rev. Jacobs invites us to do, please share your stories, thereby honoring those with whom you have served, those with whom we will serve, and honoring us, your colleagues, as well.

Rabbi Dr David J. Zucker, PhD, BCC
Director of Behavioral Services Shalom Park
Aurora, CO

I read your piece in the current PlainViews reminding us to continue to be teachers of the human condition. In synagogue and temple, we have what is known as the 'Kol Nidre Appeal', which takes place on the eve of Yom Kippur, a time when most of the Jewish brethren are in attendance. The appeal is a major fundraiser. Although you did not ask for money, you asked for jewels! You reminded me that Chaplains are silent witnesses and what a gift it is to be able to share how we find ourselves in the presence of the Divine.

I'm sending you a submission. My last submission was in 2005. It would be a privilege if it would be considered for PlainViews.

Peace and blessings,

Chaplain Rosalie M. Osian
Derech Chayim-Cycle of Life Pastoral Services
205 West End Avenue, 21M
New York, New York

Thank you, Martha, for encouraging our writing about the chaplaincy stories in which we have been players. Journaling has always been a tool for me to process challenging situations and emotions in my life.

In fact, at the suggestion of my CPE supervisor, I had planned in 1999 to write up for publication an inspiring visit with an elderly woman at Calvary Hospital. We met during the first of my four units of CPE. Our basic way of communicating was my starting to sing the first few lines of a classic gospel spiritual. She would join in with all the words I had forgotten. Her memory as well as her five teeth producing a child-like voice carried us through verse after verse. It was a joy to be with her in her final days doing what she loved. It brought her back to her youth, her home, her family and her strong faith. Needless to say, I only planned to write the story so never did.

My CPE residency ended in May 2005 and there were a number of “stories” from that experience also. Your article allowed me to put myself back in the chapel of Westchester Medical Center and recall many of them. Perhaps I will have the opportunity to commit them to paper as I move through this semester’s course at Union Theological – The Journey of Development: Psychological and Religious. It lends itself to that kind of reflection. I will mail it to you if I do!

With appreciation for the encouragement your article provided

Angela Cesa
Union Theological Seminary
New York, NY

Do you have thoughts about advocacy you’d like to share with your colleagues? Send an e-mail to info@PlainViews.org.