lazy Sunday

With no church service attended. Skews my week -- feels weird. Went to a family wedding yesterday, so have been in a church this weekend at least -- was a nuptial (RC) service, but not a mass. Nice homily about marriage being like a dance.... Good to see the husband and kids, but kind of an exhausting day catching up with them and visiting with the entire extended family. Started to have a theology discussion with a self-proclaimed atheist cousin, but others at the table discouraged us. Too bad.

Finished my first week visiting with patients. Friday was an exhausting/stressful afternoon. 64-year-old man with a brain injury -- probably will not survive -- wife ready to "let him go" but awaiting word from the doctor (she didn't leave the hospital for about 48 hours!) -- I am the family's advocate and some of the medical staff is saying they have to attend to the patient, and they have no time for the family. I wanted to help more -- I would have done more if they medical staff would have enabled/empowered/educated me. Shared some of that in weekly supervision. Supervisor just listened and let me wrestle with my feelings. I am eager to see how this man made it through the weekend, or if he did....

I find that I am praying in my spare time for all of the patients I see each day. I think my prayers are appreciated in patients' rooms, but I still feel called to pray more when I leave them. I go into the hospital chapel when I can to pray as well. Highlights of this week have been the grieving mother who thanked me and complimented me for being the one to tell her her son had died; also the flowers (long-stemmed roses!) I received from a back surgery patient in thanks for my healing prayers with her were a highlight. I've been thinking of two of my younger peers who worked 24 hours each over Saturday and Sunday -- will be interesting to hear how they made out....

Need to go do some reading and get my mind back to the hospital work ahead of me next week (tomorrow). Have two 24-hour shifts ahead of me this week! Yikes! Today was full of saying goodbye to my family, neatening up a bit, napping, and watching mindless TV. A walk around the neighborhood would be good, if the mosquitoes aren't out and after me....