(Post by: Michelle Hobbs)
Many of you know that I have been a hospice nurse practitioner for over twenty-five years. A few days ago, a patient said to me, “That’s a long time to be doing this kind of work.” It is. I have seen many co-workers come and go in this field. It is a difficult specialty. But… I also have the privilege of working alongside several who have spent entire careers in the hospice world.
Last week at work, I was asked to give a short presentation to my colleagues. The subject was my choice; anything I was passionate about. As I thought about who would be in attendance, picturing their faces, thinking about patients we have cared for together, I settled on the title, “Every encounter is a chance to improve quality of life and death.”
You see, as the years march on in my career and in my personal life, the situations I enter get more and more difficult to bear. I see myself in my patients, their spouses, their children more than I did when I was younger. I think I can say the same for many of my co-workers. Life has beaten us all up, taught us much, and has made us increasingly empathetic.
When times get difficult, it is important to remind ourselves of our “why.” Professionally, why do we, as hospice providers, do this job? Why do we enter into suffering and walk alongside our fellow humans in their most difficult times?
Personally, I think we need to ask ourselves the same question. Why do we, as Christians, enter into (or maybe a better question is, why don’t we) enter into a fellow human’s suffering and endeavor to improve their quality of life and death?
What is your why?
Lilly reminded me that for many years, I signed my work texts and emails with the scripture, “Comfort my people, says your God.” (Isaiah 40:1)
I am ashamed to say that I have failed to include that scripture in my correspondence for the past couple of years. Not an intentional choice; just an oversight. It was an excellent, eye opening, reminder of my “why.”
Every encounter with a patient and their family or caregiver is a chance to comfort God’s people. A chance to improve their quality of life and help them achieve the best ending to their lives as possible. That was my reminder to myself and my colleagues last week.
Brothers and sisters, I also say to you, especially during this Christmas season, every encounter you have with another person, family, friend, co-worker, stranger, is a chance to improve their quality of life.
You have the Good News; the simple Gospel, that WILL change the course of every person’s life and death. Every encounter is a chance. A chance to offer encouragement. A chance to speak truth. A chance to pray with someone. A chance to give; to provide for a need. A chance to hug a hurting child. A chance to share the true reason for Christmas. A chance for salvation!
My question to you is this… Did Jesus ever leave a person He encountered the same? He called the disciples to their true identity. He encouraged John the Baptist. He healed the leper, the blind, the paralyzed. He spoke truth to the woman at the well. He hugged the little children. He cast the demons out of the tormented. He made people choose between Him and the world; the new and the old.
I can hear the objections now… But that was Jesus! He had the divine ability to know exactly what was in a person’s heart and to see their personal need. I will grant you that’s true, but remember, though He was fully God, Jesus functioned on earth as a man who was completely reliant on the Holy Spirit. And, the best part is, we are promised that same helper to lead us in the same way!
In John 14:26, Jesus says, “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”
We have the means to gain insight into a person’s heart and see their need. If we stay as close to Jesus as possible. If we are praying without ceasing. If we are obedient to Jesus’ teaching and making ourselves available, the Holy Spirit will put people in front of you who have a need.
My challenge to us all is to make every effort, especially this Christmas season when hearts are more open that usual, to cultivate a holy attention to the encounters God places us in. Ask the Holy Spirit, “What does the person in front of me need from Jesus working through me?”
Let’s change our reason why! Why are you going to work? Not just to make money, but to bring Jesus into your place of employment. Why are you going to school? Not just to be educated, but to bring Jesus into your classroom. Why are you going shopping? Not just to buy gifts, but to bring Jesus into that store.
“Comfort my people, says your God.” You have the opportunity to bring the comfort of the Lord, the true source of love, peace, and salvation to someone today.
Every encounter is a chance!
The Few 
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