The patient in 912 requested a chaplain. That meant I had to leave the cozy on call room and my fruit salad and tucking my boys in over the phone, and take the hike to 9 T, past dark, cold windows. (Not in the mood.) It didn't help that when I arrived Mr. B was the scruffiest, scrawniest man I'd seen. Unshaven, scabs on his ears, dental issues galore. He began his litany of ailments - schizophrenia, blood clots, head aches, leg malfunction, crushed discs, etc. (Oh, when can I get back to my little, quiet room?) Then Mr. B told me that he didn't think he would make it much longer. "I've been saved, but I've never been baptized. Will you baptized me tonight?" I immediately began to wonder how that would logistically happen. Because he could barely sit up, he said he would just like "the basics".
I got a tiny cup with warm water. I pulled my chair closer and ask Mr. B if he knew the story of Jesus' baptism. We talked about Jesus coming out of the water and hearing God's voice announcing His beloved son. We talked about how we need a Savior, and forgiveness, and hearing God's voice calling us His beloved. I felt my heart filling with love as I took Mr. B's wizened hand in mine and we prayed. And in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit I poured the water down his forehead. I watched it trickle down his cheeks and into his hair. I dried his chin, so humbled to see the look of peace on his beautiful face.
What a privilege...
And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased." Mark 1:11
What a privilege to be to be God's heart and hands in this imperfect world. What a delight to watch Him change our perspectives. Thanks for sharing. M6
ReplyDeletei'm learning so much from you, thank you for sharing your whole self with us!
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