Typically when I am going to pray with a patient prior to surgery it is an unexpected event that is triggered by being paged by our Call Center.  Today I will visit a patient having surgery because I saw him in the hallway last week in the hospital.  He asked me to pray with him because of our relationship with each other.  Several years ago a patient died and because of her advanced age and the number of churches that have closed in Cumberland, her church no longer was in existence. (The building is not even standing.)  As a result of her death and lack of having a pastor I was asked to conduct the service.

He told me I gave him and others so much comfort in their time of grief he would appreciate me being there to give him comfort in his time of anxiety.  Today as I sip coffee and lounge in my recliner before going to work, I know there is at least one patient who is specifically expecting me to see them.  This is so different than the schedule of physicians who see a majority of their patients by appointment.  Most of my patient encounters happen without my knowing who I will see before the event happens.

This has been a nice change because I have already have thought of images I can use in the prayer that I know will be meaningful to the patient.  Some days I wonder, “What will God want me to do today?”  Today I know at least one of the things God wants me to do today!