Hospice Volunteer Spiritual Nourishment
This has been a long and winding road,sadness and pain but most of all gratefulness that a beloved has been spared for yet another day. My voluntary caregiving is not over yet as I have taken a few hours to come up take air and rejuvenate.Hospice volunteer work is not about death. It is about life. It is about the moment, the hour, the time you spend serving. When I signed up to train as a volunteer, I did not know if I could do it. Our society does not spend much time, money, energy, or thought on our last days, thus my knowledge of the process was minimal. Having trained and experienced firsthand the process, feelings, and journeys of others’ ultimate passage has made me a much more thoughtful and wise person. What is really important has surfaced. My life has more value.As my life and schedule have changed during my volunteering, people ask me if I plan to continue to volunteer, or if I have time to volunteer still. My answer is that I cannot imagine not volunteering. It is a part of me. It is an intricate part of my life--my spiritual nourishment. It is a great gift to me. My greatest hesitance or fear is that I am getting more out of it than I am giving.Hospice has clearly put so much into their organization, and that makes me feel as I do about volunteering. The training is thorough, and the staff is superb. The best part of my day is when I meet someone and share that I am a volunteer at Hospice. There is usually a pause, a clarity in their eyes, as if refocusing, and then the conversation continues almost on a different level. They automatically know something about your heart and about who you are. They know you are real.I was not able to wish anybody for the festive season as I would have`loved to but the blog I posted became nasty and I did not want this to effect me in anyway as to rub off on the patients I was going to give my love and attention to.I now wish each and every living being,be it human ,animal,friend,acquaintance or those that dont like me
“Follow your passions, believe in karma, and you won’t have to chase your dreams;they will come to you.
Comments (12)
My volunteer work with the horses and the kids who come for equinotherapy brings great joy.
As you say, you end up receiving more than you give in the long run.. it´s following our passion, believing in karma and, most importantly, filling your soul and your life purpose.
It's refreshing to be able to read some intelligent and original thought. You march to your own music and if others don't like the sound sometimes, who cares?
I trust you had a wondeful Xmas. It appears that you spent it helping others...very commendable indeed.
At St. Therese assisted living where my mother in law is in, also made me sign up for at least once a week to go and do anything that requires this call.
God bless you my dear.