Showing Compassion
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
A QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF ADVENTIST CHAPLAINCY MINISTRIES ISSUE 2 2014 Showing Compassion PERSPECTIVE COMPASSION By Larry A. Roth, B.D. CORE INGREDIENT IN ALL Assistant Director, Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries CHAPLAINCY MINISTRIES Central and Northwest United States n every type of military personnel, inmates in prison chaplaincy ministry, and the many others in their own world Ifrom health care, have very different problems, but they corrections, campus are all human stories of despair. Of to the military, and course it isn’t only chaplains who hear many forms of local these stories. All personnel in these law enforcement, fire, institutions where people come for airport, and others, all institutions help, nurses, doctors, police, wardens, seek chaplains with the highest levels teachers, counselors, social workers, of compassion. and even parents, all hear troubling Compassion is more complex in stories, and are moved to provide help. definition than one at first expects. They all need compassion. And that is One dictionary defines compassion why the Greater Good Science Center as “a feeling of deep sympathy and and their team of researchers and sorrow for another who is stricken by educators have formed their center. misfortune, accompanied by a strong They are seeking and providing ways desire to alleviate the suffering.” for a wide group of professionals to The founders at the Greater Good better understand themselves and Science Center, UC Berkeley, say expand their capacities for compassion. that compassion simply means, “to Many if not most of the institutions suffer together.” This includes more we have mentioned have learned that than merely feeling sorry together, chaplains are the ones they call on but being committed to finding a to hear these deepest expressions of solution together. the heart in the setting of complete Certainly the stories of pain, confidentiality. I believe the chaplain is depression, and hopelessness vary a expected to have the highest level and great deal depending on the setting be most sensitized with compassion where we serve. Students on campus, and determination to seek resolution. CONTENTS 2 I Perspective COMMUNITY FEATURE ARTICLES 18 I Hope Underground CORRECTIONS 4 I Who Cares? 22 I Behind and Beyond the Walls of 8 I Discipline with Dignity Serowe Prison 12 I It Happens, Even to the Best of Us 27 I ACM World 2 My chaplain ministry was dedicated your home exercise equipment, slow to serving those in the U.S. Navy. At breathing, and meditation techniques. times there were personnel whose For a chaplain the key source of lives were placed in my hands. So dark help in this compassion business is the story and serious the situation, God. In fact, through prayer God is they were ordered to report to the also the key to our offering any level chaplain every morning. Every of hope and resolution to the seeming chaplain can tell their own story of impossible situations our clients face. times when people’s lives were in Second Corinthians 1:3-7 speaks of their hands. Over time, with repeated God as the “Father of compassion” loads of heavy cases, as you share the and the “God of all comfort, who burdens of others, you soon realize comforts us in all our troubles, you also can become burned out. so that we can comfort those in Reflect on this as you read the article any trouble with the comfort we on compassion fatigue in this issue. ourselves received from God.” For There is hope for caregivers. Christians, Jesus embodies the very New cutting-edge research and new essence of compassion and relational educational programs are offered. care. As chaplains we often work in More emphasis is placed on staff tandem with clergy of many other members forming self-care teams. denominations. I am impressed how Often it is the chaplain being called on Wikipedia draws from many religious to initiate creative ways to care for the groups’ lessons on compassion. In staff. So who does the chaplain turn fact the six pages in this article, with to for his/her self-care? Mentors are its 70 references, and 23 external critical for young or new chaplains, links, there is enough material for colleagues, other professionals, trusted rich discussion in any group of friends, often a spouse, or your pastor chaplains you may have at your may provide someone you can turn institution. May you have compassion to. This is also where physical release and may you maintain your own is necessary to the tension that builds well-being and lend help to fellow up–running, walking, fishing, all chaplains. Enjoy this special issue. of Dedica ars te e d Y M ty in ir is t h r T y - - 5 2 8 0 IT'S COMING 9 1 1 5 J u 5 n 1 e 0 2 , 2 9 - July 1 2015ADVENTIST CHAPLAINS WORLD CONGRESS SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT WWW.GC.ADVENTISTCHAPLAINS.ORG 3 Who Cares? By Howard Fish and Roberta Fish, M.S. LCSW Editor's Note: This article was co-written by Howard and Roberta Fish. Designations within the article (HLF) and (RMF) refer to them respectively. ompassion is a touchstone word brain that turn on when people in chaplaincy. More than any receive rewards or experience Cother, this word encapsulates pleasure. Helping others brings the meaning of being a chaplain. the same pleasure we get from the Compassion, a form of love, is gratification of personal desire.1 awakened within us when we are Then there’s oxytocin, a hormone confronted with those who are hurt in the bloodstream. Research indicates and vulnerable. It produces a desire to that oxytocin promotes long-term take action to relieve the suffering. bonds and commitments, as well According to research, this as the kind of nurturing behavior compassion response is embedded that lies at the heart of compassion. in our physiology. Among the many Dacher Keltner, the author of The studies on this topic, here are two Compassionate Instinct says, “When remarkable findings. people perform behaviors associated Emory University neuroscientists with compassionate love—warm James Rilling and Gregory Berns used smiles, friendly hand gestures, functional MRIs to determine which affirmative forward leans—their part of the brain was triggered when bodies produce more oxytocin. This participants were given the chance to suggests that being compassionate help someone. Compassion triggered causes a chemical reaction in the activity in the caudate nucleus and body that motivates us to be even anterior cingulate, portions of the more compassionate.”2 4 It would make sense that a God of love would create in our very being the delight and joy of compassion. It would make sense that a God of compassion becomes depleting for the love would create in our very being chaplain? Hearing and seeing serious the delight and joy of compassion. In human suffering day in and day out; the Old Testament, God’s compassion year after year can have its effects. is freely and tenderly given like a This is especially true when the mother’s (Isaiah 49:15) or father’s chaplain has a personal crisis. (Hosea 11:8) compassion for a child. During my (HLF) time as chaplain Jesus embodies divine compassion at Glen Oaks Medical Center, a crisis in the New Testament. He has sent me into what, in retrospect, I compassion for the sickly throngs would call compassion fatigue. A (Matthew 14:14), the hungry souls very dear friend was ill with cancer. (Mark 8:2), the destitute multitudes She had a wonderful husband and (Matthew 9:36), and the blind three young children. She was an (Matthew 20:34). amazing nurse and had much to live When chaplains are asked why for. I ministered to her through her they entered the profession, most hospitalizations and treatments. We respond “to answer God’s call” anointed her and prayed earnestly for followed by “to help others” and her physical healing. I was convinced “to make a difference.” Compassion that God would heal her. That is not is essential to effective chaplaincy. what happened. She died. Even though chaplains deal with a great deal of suffering, they are quite resilient. Studies show the vast majority of chaplains are doing remarkably well in their attempts to deal with primary traumatic stress (PTS – stress that results from trauma that is immediately experienced or witnessed), secondary traumatic stress (STD - the emotional duress that results when an individual hears about the first hand trauma experiences of another), and other personal/ professional stress.3 But, what happens when 5 I have attended many dying . Have I experienced a lot of those people and grieving families over cases or situations recently? the years and navigated the process with resilience. This was different. I . Am I losing compassion for some was a mess. I was irritable and angry people, but becoming overly with God. I felt fatigue and poor involved with others? (This is concentration. I was walking into a key question when assessing walls. I was withdrawn and not able compassion fatigue.) to be present with patients. I knew I . Is my ability to function altered? needed some time. I took a few days off and visited my mechanic friend . Am I obsessing about a case in Rockford. Most of the day, I was or situation? in the shop alone. I had some long talks, even rants with God. I regained . Am I easily frustrated or irritated? perspective and was able to return to work. I continued to grieve and was . Am I working harder but able to reach out to others for support. accomplishing less? Much has been written, starting in In addition, you will find the early 1990’s, about compassion an assessment called Proquol fatigue.