"Don't ever be in a hurry when caring."

I heard that advice is when I was learning care ministry as a Chaplain at Hospice of Saint John. Father Paul Von Lobkowitz made the statement that enlightened me to the essence of care.  He was the founder of that hospice and his vison was for hospice to provide the best care for the dying.

Father Paul was talking about care in a hospice setting. He wanted the setting to feel calm, quiet and peaceful--different than the noise of overhead-pages, IV and oxygen alarms, and the running in a hospital setting. He recognized that in an emergency department or in the Intensive Care Unit of a hospital that swift and dramatic action is appropriate for crisis situations. But, even there, when the crisis passes, a calming presence helps with the recovery.

Healing, physical or emotional, is slow.

Presence that honors and care that is felt requires time and unrushed listening.

Commitment to care brings a healthy pace to ministry. Caring forces us to slow down. Deeper caring, fuller relationships and mature emotions grow from the slower pace. You can enjoy ministry more at a slower pace.

The sick and infirmed purused and crowed around Jesus. It must have been a loud and chaotic scene, but it is amazing how could bring the situation to a complete standstill, like he did to the stormy seas when he said, "Peace. Be still!." When he cared for those who came to him, everything stopped as he turned his full attention to a single person..
 
There is a pace of care ministry. Caring forces us to slow down. We stand or sit still as we listen to someone's story. Beside a hospital bed we are present with the sick or injured. We lean in as we, perhaps hold, the grieving person who weeps the loss of thier beloved.

I need to resist the urge to be busy and in a hurry. 

I confess, I like it. I am honored that my time is requested by many people. But, if I am honest, I recognize that at least a part of that pace is about me. It makes me feel important.  While life if full of demands, I wonder how much of our hurry is allowed because we need it to fuel our sense of significance.

When I stay on time, remove distractions, actively listen and keep my pace slow and focused, then those who I care for, feel that I am 100% with them. The slower pace actually produces the setting where peole are more responsive and I am able accomplish more ministry.

Father Paul's instruction not only helps me care better but it helps me live healthier and set the pace for all of life and ministry.

A general pace of hiking is two miles an hour. Walking may get up to three miles an hour. Maybe that is why I like it so much. I think deeper, observe the scenery, hear my surroundings and am more aware of my own existence and God's presence at that pace. Since most of our going here and there is between 35 and 75 miles an hour while driving defensively and obeying the traffic signals, it can be very difficult to slow down when I am present with another person.

But care has a pace.

Care is slow, calm, listening and engaged. Recognizing the pace of care, adjusting from hurried to slow will help you provide the best care and live the best life. You are needed and what you do matters. Giving time to be present, listen and care is what it takes for a person to feel cared for AND it will also benefit you with a healthy pace of ministry.

In a culture that is too busy to care, your unhurried presence will separate you from the crowd. I hope this post helps you provide the best care, thrive in your caring and help people feel God's love.