A Tiring Day. A Day to Be Kind, Too?

A Year of Being Kind blog – Sunday, October 12, 2014

What autumn is supposed to look like.
(Photo credit – Kevin Jones)

A Tiring Day. A Day to Be Kind, Too?

Today was a good day. Enjoyable, busy, filled with hustle bustle. Greeting friends, acquaintances, and fellow congregation members. This was also the end of a hectic, week-long time of preparation. I did an enjoyable presentation yesterday morning, which was quite satisfying. But in terms of preparation and planning? I was running, running all week, doing both pastoral care and pastor-things, as well as preparation, planning and group facilitator things (for yesterday).

When I finally got home in the early afternoon, I was tired. Done in. Blitzed. Tuckered out. Even though everything I’ve been involved in for over a week has been enjoyable, worthwhile and rewarding, now that I am at the end of it, I still felt extremely tired. (Still am.) I put up my feet for a bit. That felt wonderful, to finally slow down and to relax.

Since the weather was so beautiful today (and it was! Simply gorgeous autumn day!), my husband and I went out later in the afternoon. We traveled to a park along the lake, and walked. Windswept, yet temperate day for mid-October. I enjoyed everything about our walk. The bright sun on the sand, the variegated color of the leaves. We even saw a newer park bench overlooking the lake under the trees with a plaque on it. The plaque read: “Honey, let’s go down to the lake” and the two names of the couple who gave that bench.

As we gazed at that plaque, I felt a whisper of sorrow, loss, yearning. My husband nodded when I communicated that feeling. “I think one or the other of that couple put that bench here with the plaque attached,” he thought out loud. “One of the couple passed on, and the remaining half donated that bench to the park district. That’s what I’m guessing.” I paused, next to the bench. I felt sorrow and emptiness for this couple. I truly did. And then, ran to catch up with my husband.

I smiled and nodded to a number of people who lived nearby that park. Including dogs, and their human companions. I looked forward to a low key evening, and decided then and there to strive to be kind as much as possible. Being particularly tired, I knew I would not be able to do much.

I wonder—do I still act in a kind manner, even when I’m tired to pieces? Interesting question. I wouldn’t like to find out anytime soon, though. God, help me to be kind, no matter what is going on all around me. No matter how exhausted I may be. Thanks for God’s help!

@chaplaineliza

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Conference-Goer by Day, Pastor by Night

A Year of Being Kind blog –Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Conference-Goer by Day, Pastor by Night

Another day at the addiction and recovery conference. A rainy and chill day, this time. Good day to be inside. As I mentioned yesterday, I love being with fellow professionals. I enjoy getting a refresher on the area of my certification! (For those of you who are wondering, I have a state certificate in Alcohol and Drug Counseling. That’s on top of my master’s degree in Divinity.)

I loved both morning and afternoon sessions. Nothing too, too heavy. (Just kidding!) Seriously, just a seminar on grief and loss as related to addiction and recovery in the morning. This was followed by lunch and then a practicum on suicide. Both presenters were superb, and knew their stuff! I didn’t even mind discussing and learning more about such downer-subjects.

Many of the usual suspects—I mean, many of the same addictions and recovery professionals attend these sessions. I get the opportunity to hear from certain of them at the individual sessions. We all have some sort of service orientation, too. Many of these people are deeply concerned with and care about alcoholics and addicts, or drunks and druggies (as some people say). And oriented towards service? You bet! Such caring, loving service is natural for many in the addiction and recovery area.

I serve in the addiction community, too. I’m not currently employed as a counselor, case manager or worker at a recovery home or rehab unit, but I facilitate a spirituality group regularly at an inpatient drug and alcohol unit at a medical center several miles west. I’ve done it for the past nine years. (Gee, time flies when you’re having fun!) I do look on leading this group as service. Service to God (or, if you prefer, my Higher Power), as well as to the drunks and druggies who have just arrived in treatment.

A few years ago, when I was doing my two semesters of internship, I was able to serve as substance abuse counselor intern at this particular inpatient unit. After the ten month period of internship was over, I took the certification test, and added more letters to the end of my name. Oh, and I received a certification as Alcohol and Drug Counselor, too.

I praise God that I am available once a month to these good people at the inpatient unit, and facilitate the spirituality group. Many of those people in that unit are hesitant about religion. Understandable! If I had had similar experiences with church, religion, and dysfunction in the family, I probably would have a problem with religion, too! Since the recovery program and the 12 Steps are heavily spiritual (NOT religious!), this gives me an open door to talk about God.

Some prefer referring to God as their “Higher Power,” but I welcome any opportunity to let people know that God loves them, God has a plan for their lives, and God is with them—each day, all the days of their lives. One day at a time.

@chaplaineliza

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