My co-worker told me her story of how this admission is due to chest pain, of which she does have a legit cardiac history. She is in her 30's. She is a smoker. She is a mother, daughter, and wife. As a cardiac nurse, she admittedly does know better. This hospital visit is hopefully a wake up call to make some changes in her life.
She quietly then told me that she's been meaning to ask me something personal. She suggested that perhaps the string of unfortunate events (ie her health, marriage, finances, family) was happening to her due to her lack of a spiritual life. She was wanting to know how she could talk to a priest. I advised her how she could simply call a parish and request to speak with one. I personally recommended Fr Harry.
I asked her how her own faith, her own prayer life was. She shared how her mother committed suicide and that she was angry with God for a time. But she has realized that it was her own mother's poor choice, her own free will to make such a decision.
I, in turn, shared the gospel with her from this past weekend.
Jesus asks his disciples, "Who do people say I am?"
They reply, "John the Baptist, one of the prophets..."
Jesus then asks them, "Who do you say that I am?"
Peter replied, "You are Christ, son of God."
Fr Harry challenged us this weekend. If Jesus were to ask us, "Who do you say I am?" What would be your answer? My immediate answer this past weekend and what I shared with my fellow nurse this evening is that Jesus is my friend.
I talk with Jesus as I would speak with a close friend. I'm honest. I tell him I'm tired and weak. I told her my prayer that carries me before going to work every time is for love and patience for all those I encounter and/or any situation I will face.
She expressed feeling desolate. I of course had to share Ignatian spirituality with her. I touched on the key point of "finding God in all things." Finding God in each person I encounter, those you love, those who annoy you or who you may struggle to love.
As I have come to know by heart, I shared with her the Falling in Love reflection by Pedro Arrupe, SJ.
“Nothing is more practical than finding God, that is, than falling in a love in a quite absolute, final way. What you are in love with, what seizes your imagination will affect everything. It will decide what will get you out of bed in the mornings, what you will do with your evenings, how you spend your weekends, what you read, who you know, what breaks your heart, and what amazes you with joy and gratitude. Fall in love, stay in love, and it will decide everything.”
I encouraged her to find the good, our God in everything.
I couldn't help but feel honored to share my faith, to share Christ with her.
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