I Must Be Missing Something!

[debris4spike]

Yesterday when I was at work one of the volunteers was telling me that as from next week she would also be doing some volunteering elsewhere in the hospital.  She has joined the Chaplaincy team.

Now, for those who don't know, our hospital "Chapel" like most other hospitals etc, are multi-faith.  As you go into our Chapel you are facing a normal looking Church.  The cross is actually made from food from a tree on Kos, thatis said to have been planted by Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine.  Stand there and look right, and that is sub-dividided.  The front half is a "Synagogue" and the back half a "Mosque", as they are the other 2 main faiths in the area.  However stay standing and face left and there is a small Hindu "Temple" area.  Most of our Chaplains are Christian based, but we have on-call Imams and Rabbis.

So hopefully you can imagine to a certain degree what our "Chapel" looks like.

So, I asked the lady in question which Church she went to ... as I knew she had celebrated Christmas, so ruled out other faiths.

However now it comes to the bit I don't understand.

her answer was that she didn't go to Church ... she was an Atheist.

Sorry, but I just don't understand why someone who has no belief in God, however vague, or whatever faith, would want to be involved with that team!

I suppose that maybe I should pray that in being around the team she will realise that God does exist after all.

So after that surprise I must say that the rest of the shift ran smoothly!

Today is another day of heading into work after an early lunch. But before I get on -








20. What do you see if you look down at the floor right now?
Grey carpet (I am in my study)




Right, let's get on

Comments

[shirebound]

Interesting. I would think that "agnostic" would make more sense in that situation.

[debris4spike]

I just would think there would be somewhere else she could volunteer ... but she seems happy with her choice.

[garnigal.livejournal.com]

I think it might also depend on what sort of activities being a volunteer for the Chaplaincy entails. If it's sitting with the ill or dying, or spending time with those waiting for the worst sort of news, I can see the need for an atheist on the team.

I'm atheist and would be comforted by the opportunity to talk to someone outside the impending loss, but I also wouldn't want to hear hollow statements about "better place" and all that jazz.

[debris4spike]

Oh, hadn't thought about it from that point of view.

Thank you.

However I wonder if people would presume, as I do, that Chaplaincy is linked to a specific faith. So would they look to that team for a friendly face?

[garnigal.livejournal.com]

I'd bet that if you are in that waiting stage, the Chaplaincy team reaches out to you. Perhaps not in an emergency situation, but there are lots of people in hospital for a long time, or repeat visitors. Once they (or another member of your care team) shares the Chaplaincy flyers and capabilities, people will realize it's not one specific faith supported by the team.

[debris4spike]

OH yes, we have many different Faith leaders on site ... many different visitors, as well.

I was just surprised that someone who didn't believe in God at all wanted to join the Chaplaincy team.

But I do also see your side of the situation. Thank you

[trepkos.livejournal.com]

Perhaps she is a good person who wants to help people.

[debris4spike]

Oh she is great - after all she already volunteers to help people in the main entrance

[deepseasiren.livejournal.com]

That does seem rather odd to me but as you said, as an atheist, she would be faced with many different belief systems that emphasize God, and maybe she might just see for herself that it's worth e3xploring. What do I see right now? My floral carpet LOL. :P

[debris4spike]

Yes, I can't understand why an Atheist would want to be involved with Chaplaincy ... but, yes, maybe she will be the winner and discover God herself.