Typically when I am not at work or On-Call I consider myself off duty.  When I am off duty I don’t engage in shameful or illegal activities but I am more relaxed than when I am on duty.  I was reminded today that for those who only know me as a chaplain where ever they see me, they view me as a chaplain.

I was out in local stores and a restaurant today and people who were previously patient’s I provided care to stopped and talked to me.  They were glad to tell me they were feeling better.  I was a little uneasy because even though they recognized me immediately, I did not remember them until the spoke to me.  One patient told me she was going to tell her husband when she got home that she had seen me, “buying apples just like a regular person”.  I smiled as she said the comment.  After we parted ways I reflected on the conversation and was caught by the fact that I was buying apples was interesting.  I was glad she caught me buying apples then engaging in some activity that would make me feel embarrassed being “caught in the act”.

So now I have two reasons to obey God: 1 – because God is watching and 2 – because others are watching and will judge my integrity by how I conduct myself both when I am on and off duty.  This encounter was a good reminder for all of us who want to recognized as a person who follows and serves God.