Saturday, December 7, 2024
The cancer center’s waiting room was quiet, although silent, serious thoughts were traveling through the air as oncology patients listened for their names to be called by the nurses. As I sat waiting, I thought I recognized a woman coming through the sliding entrance door, grabbing an available wheelchair, returning to her car, helping her ailing husband from car to chair, then back through the entrance door to sign in for his blood work and chemotherapy appointments. From previous conversations with the woman, I was aware that he had been enduring the illness called cancer for some time now. From all outward appearances, the battle was wearing him down. I wondered if it were a foe that in the long run, he might not conquer.
Just as the pair situated themselves across the room from me, my name was called by the nurse standing at the open door that led to the exam rooms. I waved briefly at the couple as I stood to follow the nurse into the inner sanctum of the cancer center. I was disappointed I had missed the opportunity to talk with the pair whom I had left behind in the waiting room.
As God would have it, however, my appointment concluded, I paused to make my next appointments at the office window, and there appeared around the corner the woman guiding the wheelchair in which her husband sat. Freed for just a moment from her wheelchair chauffeur duties because the nurse was asking questions of the husband, the woman turned to me, her tired eyes showing the heavy concerns she carried.
Quietly I asked how things were going. Her succinct response, spoken just as quietly, was this: “Cynthia, it is so hard.” Her words told me all I needed to know, and right there in the busyness and bustle of the cancer center, I placed my arms around her, whispering prayerful words softly near her ear so that only she and I, and Most Holy God, could hear our prayer. Tears formed rivulets down her cheeks as she thanked me for the prayer and my care. She was soon called back to attend to her spouse. With tears in my own eyes, I exited the building to continue with my day.
That, my friends, is God’s love made evident! And just like God’s love, the opportunities are endless! My Advent challenge, dear reader, is this: Telling someone you will pray for them is nice; actually praying with them is even better. You, whoever and wherever you are, have the power in sharing prayer with another to make God’s love visible! Do it! The world needs it!
Prayer: Most Holy One, The needs of the world are great, aren’t they? Empower us, we pray, to seize opportunities that come our way each day so that through us your love is made visible to those who are hurting and feel alone in their hurt. This we pray, Amen.
Rev. Cynthia Klingemier,
District 4 Regional Elder