oops: I mean Feb. 1, 2010

Everyone needs meaning of some sort.  That is the foundation, the ground upon which we build our sense of self, our psychology, our relationships, our communities, our countries, our civilizations.

Spirituality is the care and nurturing of that.

The means through which we communicate this is through stories and myths and parables and metaphors and other such symbols.

I find it very interesting, then, to put my usage into such phrases as 'Spiritual Warfare' and 'Holy Spirit' and 'the Spirit of G_d was hovering over the face of the deep...'

In a very real sense, we are living out our stories, our myths.

We now live in another story, created by corporations, that don't go very deep into meaning, but give us easy to swallow stories, that say that stories are that, "just stories" or "lies".  That encourage us to think of ourselves as just bags of meat, the victim of random forces...

(Maybe this 'spiritual warfare' has been going on for a very long time?)

So, yes, I think (and have experienced) such things as faith and spirituality being important in public hospitals.  Just because (and especially because) one is in a hospital doesn't mean that meaning doesn't end...

So I think it is a deadly shame when the Fraser Health Authority decided to fire its Spiritual Care Directors...I do hope they reverse their decision.

Just a Self-writing poem,

InannaWhimsey

Hospitals, government funded from our tax dollars,  have their doors open to all our diverse citizens ... to serve them all with preventative, restorative, and palliative measures, in ways that are respectful of one's dignity and individuality. 

For many people, health crisis brings with it a desire for spiritual comfort, or an exploration of the meaning of the crisis in the larger context of their life.  For many, the health crisis may also trigger a spiritual or religious crisis.   For many, observance of very specific religious traditions are an important part of the events which unfold in hospitals.   These are the kinds of situations hospital chaplains are trained to respond to.    They additionally provide support to staff in the hospitals who experience their own challenges, both personally and through the work they perform every day.  

So ... IMO, the presence of specially trained spiritual care advisors is a great advantage for both patients, their loved ones, and staff.   I think there may be great differences in how spiritual care can be provided  between  hospitals in fairly homogeneous communities, and those in diverse communities.

Hi martha ... this thread has gone silent ... in case you want to read more, there was another thread on this topic as well: 

http://www.wondercafe.ca/discussion/religion-and-faith/hospital-spiritual-care-gets-axe-bc

There were a number of very interesting perspectives expressed.

When my mother passed away she had been taken by ambulance to a larger centre for treatment. As we were from out of town the hospital chaplain was called when it appeared that the episode would prove fatal. We very much appreciated her prayers and support and in helping us express our feelings ... especially my dad. Later she guided us in the arrangements that had to be done before we left for home. Her help was greatly appreciated.

I think medical facilities and practicioners have to look at your body as a machine in order to fix it or loose you, without too much strain on themselves, so having someone in the hospital who can talk to you about how you feel and the spiritual aspects of your condition is very useful.

I recently heard of a near death experience where the doctor told the patient to forget it because it wasn't real, but that person had just had a profound experience and needed someone to talk to about it. In this case the nurses provided that service.

I have never experienced pastoral care in a hospital setting.  Have had family members in ICU several tiems, always far from home, often being the only family member there.

During one ICU vigil I did have some contact with someone in a collar who may have been part of the hospital or may have been the other family's clergy person.  This clergyperson was very rude and inconsiderate to me, and later to the rest of my family. 

Oh gosh kay ... distressing to hear about the rudeness of the clergy person.  I wonder what that was all about?  I guess clergy are people too ... subject to human foibles, but we wish otherwise at times.