I watched the bucket list tonight. It was very appropriate for where I’m at in my ministry right now. My congregation is letting me serve as an on-call chaplain on the side to help on a temporary basis as my wife is unemployed right now as a public school teacher due to some state wide budget cuts. On call simply means that if a chaplain can’t work a shift at the hospital that I could pick up some hours when called upon. It’s a lot like a substitute teaching gig. I can say no. And I can say yes.

The movie reminded me of my experience serving as a chaplain while in seminary. I served in an oncology unit in Langhorne, PA. Candidates for ministry are required to complete a unit of clinical pastoral education as part of the ordination process within the PCUSA. It was six weeks of intense ministry, training, and supervision in pastoral care not just for those I ministered alongside with and to in a hospital setting, but it was training for my soul in the way I encounter, confront, and handle everyday issues within the church and in our world. 

I learned more about pastoral care and the role of the pastor in walking alongside someone in their pain and suffering for those six weeks than I ever did while in seminary for 3 years in my pastoral care classes.

I know this much. If I’m ever confronted with a life threatening illness that my bucket list is huge. Huge. Huge.

Did I say huge?

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