A Shot in the Arm!

Not one, but two needle pricks to the arm are required to become a staff-person at Methodist Hospital. When I went in for my second TB test I made small talk with the person working at the information desk who wrote out a name tag for me to wear. I mentioned that I was back for my second needle prick and she laughed and then said, “When I started working here I had it three times.  The same two that you are having, and then again on my birthday!” Apparently employees are tested for TB every year in their birthday month in addition to the two tests I was taking. Like working in any place there are always forms to fill out and tests to take to get on track.

Next week I will begin training for Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) at Methodist Hospital in Arcadia, California. CPE is an opportunity for pastors and chaplains in training to gain valuable experience and personal growth providing spiritual care for people in hospital, prison, or military situations. As a candidate for ordained ministry in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America I am required to do at least one unit (400 hours) of CPE. Some of my friends and colleagues who hope to be full time chaplains as their career will be doing 4 units, or about 12 months of this work as students!

Everyone who has done CPE has stories about their experiences. Some people loved the experience and heartily encourage me. Others seem to shudder as they think back. There is a lot of talk and emotion about the whole thing because it seems that it is intense. I for one am looking forward to the experience. I have heard very good things about Methodist Hospital and their spiritual care team. I have a friend who has already done two units of CPE there, who speaks highly of the place.

Arcadia is a city in southern California just east of Pasadena. The population is diverse, as are many cities in the south-land. The Asian population has grown in particular in that area known as the San Gabriel Valley. It has also been said that the population is aging, with many people coming into the hospital who are elderly. But this aging phenomenon is a trend in America in general, is it not?

I will be working 4o hour weeks with rotating on call assignments on nights and weekends too. It is a big job to be sure. Much of CPE is also about sharing and working through one’s own personal reactions and emotions to tragic circumstances. So much of what I will be doing is talking about my feelings with other chaplains. Note: this sharing happens behind the scenes in small group sessions. The time spent in the hospital floor is one of giving care, listening to others, and attending to spiritual needs in a professional manner.

Obviously much of what I will be doing will be highly confidential. The stories and circumstances that I encounter will be restricted to the people who “own” them. But I think that I will be able to blog to some extent about my own journey. I am eager to have this experience, to be challenged and to grow.

I value your thoughts and prayers as I take this next step on the journey!