A busy but enjoyable day!

Today has been a busy, but enjoyable day! I got up early this morning and went to the gym. I worked out for about an hour. Then I came home and got ready to meet my mentor (Hospice Chaplain) at 9:30. Volunteering at Hospice this semester has stirred up things in my life that I have never dealt with, which has led me to do a lot of self reflection. With the help of my mentor I am beginning to sort through some of this stuff, learning more about myself each day.

After meeting with my mentor I went and picked up the pottery that Jamie, Jennifer, Reagan, and I painted a couple weeks ago! They all turned out so cute!

This afternoon I met with the chaplains at the Medical Center to talk about hospital chaplaincy. They shared there CPE experiences with me, and gave me some very helpful advice about CPE and chaplaincy. They told me that no patient visit is the same and that chaplaincy allows you to be creative in your ministry. They also said that with chaplaincy when you leave work, you can really leave it, unlike church ministry. One of them asked me if I had ever been with someone when they died. I told them that I hadn't, and they encouraged me to have someone to call to help me process the experience when I do experience my first death. They encouraged me by telling me that I seemed to be an open perosn who will be far ahead of others because I am asking questions and observing chaplaincy now.

Later in the afternoon I met with the bereavement coordinator to talk about the memorial service. Heartland Hospice has two memorial services a year for the familes and friends of those who have passed away. The theme for the memorial service is Sacred Moments I am helping the bereament coordinator plan the service and I will also be saying something in the service.

After this I treated myself to a manicure and pedicure. Then we went to church tonight!

My pastoral care professor cancelled class for tomorrow with the we promise that we practice a spiritual discipline to observe Maundy Thursday. Since my Thursday is now free I will be going with my mentor to visit patients tomorrow and then Ben and I will go to the Maundy Thursday service at church tomorrow night. We plan to head to Savannah on Friday to spend Easter weekend with my family!