Chaplaincy...
As a Chaplain I believe that regardless of a person's specific belief system/religion/theology, there exists similarities. I believe that every person seeks to have hope in their lives. I also believe that every person seeks to have meaning in their life. To that end, people are searching for the answer to the question, “Why?”
I believe that this question arises more often in the lives of those who are struggling. That struggle could be a physical struggle, a mental struggle, or an emotional struggle. The struggle can also be a spiritual one. I believe struggle exists as part of the human condition. Regardless of one's faith/religion/theology, the human condition is one of struggle. In the Judeo-Christian faith, struggle exists because humans live in a "fallen" state, while in other religions the struggle exists to test or purify one's faith.
Someone's faith/religion/theology informs their perception of this struggle and is directly related to the transcendent. People in the midst of struggle desire to transcend above their current and/or experienced circumstances. These people desire to understand the purpose and to experience hope within this time. This is precisely where the role of the Chaplain is involved.
The Chaplain’s pastoral role is not necessarily to inform a person of hope or meaning, but instead to come alongside them and help them discover the meaning for themselves or find that hope for themselves. A Chaplain does not impart their own belief system/religion/theology upon someone. Rather, they seek to understand someone else's belief system to help them find the answers that they seek.
This is an appropriate response, especially within the clinical setting, because this transcendent is holistically related to one's health. People desire to have hope regardless of if they are sick and dying, or if they are perfectly healthy. In a non-clinical setting, this transcendence is also present. People want to have meaning to their life, and the Chaplain can help them discover meaning according to their own believe system/religion/theology. They do this through interventions while visiting with the person. This is important and effective because the Chaplain should seek to understand each person to whom they provide pastoral care, and this understanding comes from a sincere and genuine desire to help.
I believe that this question arises more often in the lives of those who are struggling. That struggle could be a physical struggle, a mental struggle, or an emotional struggle. The struggle can also be a spiritual one. I believe struggle exists as part of the human condition. Regardless of one's faith/religion/theology, the human condition is one of struggle. In the Judeo-Christian faith, struggle exists because humans live in a "fallen" state, while in other religions the struggle exists to test or purify one's faith.
Someone's faith/religion/theology informs their perception of this struggle and is directly related to the transcendent. People in the midst of struggle desire to transcend above their current and/or experienced circumstances. These people desire to understand the purpose and to experience hope within this time. This is precisely where the role of the Chaplain is involved.
The Chaplain’s pastoral role is not necessarily to inform a person of hope or meaning, but instead to come alongside them and help them discover the meaning for themselves or find that hope for themselves. A Chaplain does not impart their own belief system/religion/theology upon someone. Rather, they seek to understand someone else's belief system to help them find the answers that they seek.
This is an appropriate response, especially within the clinical setting, because this transcendent is holistically related to one's health. People desire to have hope regardless of if they are sick and dying, or if they are perfectly healthy. In a non-clinical setting, this transcendence is also present. People want to have meaning to their life, and the Chaplain can help them discover meaning according to their own believe system/religion/theology. They do this through interventions while visiting with the person. This is important and effective because the Chaplain should seek to understand each person to whom they provide pastoral care, and this understanding comes from a sincere and genuine desire to help.
©2022 Jordan Harris