Hmmm

I was remembering an incident the other day that happened with a man who came on our hospice service but was emphatic that the chaplain NOT visit. He told the nurse, "I don't like preachers, don't trust them, and I don't want one in my house." So I did not visit him. About 3 months into his care, I got a call from the office about 5:30pm Tuesday evening. I was on my way to the school where one of the kids had a performance. Was just about going to be late. "The patient wants a chaplain visit tonight. He said it is urgent." Here is a man who wanted nothing to do with me and now I am supposed to jump because he says frog? I was quite put out by the demand since I had something important I was going to do. But I turned around and got to his house about 6:30pm.

When I entered the home, I greeted the sister who was the caregiver. Did all of the pleasantries: "His, I'm Rick Atkinson, I'm the chaplain, tell me something about your brother, etc." After a few minutes she took me to his room. As I entered, I was about to introduce myself but was cut off. "Are you the chaplain?" "Yes, I'm . . ." He interrupted, "I don't care who you are. I'm dying and I need 2 more days to finish my business before I die. I need for you to pray and ask God to give me 2 more days." Sounded reasonable. "So my name is R..." "I told you I don't care what your name is. I just need you to pray and ask God to give me two more days." I tried to engage this man in conversation a couple more times before one of his friends arrived with a milk shake and a round tray of boiled shrimp. They talked a minute without paying much attention to me. He finally turned back to me and said, "Are you going to pray?" I agreed and we prayed right then. And I asked God to give him 2 more days to finish his business. When I said "Amen," he pointed to the door and said, "Thanks for coming."

So lets recap. I miss my child's performance because a man who wants nothing to do with me needs me urgently to come pray and ask God to give him 2 more days to finish his business. It had already been a frustrating day and this just really put me over the threshold. I fumed most of the way home. I didn't think much of it again until Friday morning when I got to the office. I heard that the man had died in the night, about 1am. I went to the home and was met by the sister. "Thank you so mush for what you did. He got his 2 days and finished what he needed to. He was able to go in peace."

If I had not gone on Tuesday night, would the man still have died at 1am on Friday? Would he still have been motivated to get his business finished because we asked for 2 more days and he believed he was going to get them? Most of the things we do to minister to others has no accurate measurement to know if it was effective or successful. Its all about how God can use you in the moment without revealing what your real purpose was. It is not about me. It's good to be reminded of that once in awhile.