This week I start working alongside a new Hospice team as their Chaplain.

I am reflecting on 1 Thessalonians 5:16 ” Rejoice always”.

The profound reality is that in hospice care, we have the opportunity to really dig into and grab hold of hope. This may seem contrary, as most people would argue by the time you enter into hospice, or palliative care, all hope is gone. All attempts at prolonging life, finding healing, recovering and beating the condition or illness have failed. Yet, for hospice patients there is a great deal of comfort and peace. We wrestle through all the would haves, could haves and should haves. Everyone has far greater wisdom looking back at things then when they were in looking at them. This is part of our human-ness.

Although we are fallible and too hasty, hospice gives us time. We can reckon the past, and gaze into the future with a clear and unavoidable expectancy.

At other times death comes very sudden, and unexpectedly.

I have sat with the parents who have lost hope, as they wrestled with the sudden lose of the child.

I have spoke with the spouse who has lost hope, as they tried to understand how to live the next day alone.

I have prayed with the young mother and father, who have lost hope as they return home from the hospital to an empty nursery.

They never had the gift of knowing when. For them, their loss was so unexpected. In this way, although its wrought with much suffering, hospice provides an intentional time of reflection and ministry.

So with our time together, we rejoice in the mercy of God as we unpack a life lived, and we rejoice in a death received with a hope filled heart.

We rejoice always knowing that even when death is unexpected, it has no victory over Christ.

For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
“O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:53-57

To all of those who mourn the loss of their loved ones, as expected or unexpected as it was. Who grieve and feel no hope. Who feel the burden and weight of loneliness. Who like me, have had to say goodbye to soon to a loved one, I offer the following prayers.

Father, we hurt. There is a weight that sinks deep into our chests. We want to experience your joy again, but feel as if right now, we cannot. We have so much sorrow. We have so much pain. We recount the days we shared with those we loved. We cherish the fleeting moments you gave us. Give us your hope, Lord. Give us hope.

For those that never held their baby, have mercy. We know you knit them together, we know you fearfully made them. We know they are the work of your hands. Yet, we wanted to know them more. We wanted to hold them in our arms. Yet, in your will, we wait. Someday Lord, we hope that we will know them fully as you do now. We hope to embrace them as you have done so since the beginning. Give us mercy while we wait. Keep our eyes on Christ, who conquered death and poured out grace, so someday we can rejoice forever.

For those that have lost their child, have mercy. We taught them your ways, and walked beside them. We shared your creation and enjoyed its beauty and goodness. Still, we wanted more time, to show them more and lead them further. We were not prepared to live on without them. Yet, in your will, we wait. Someday Lord, we hope that we will walk together in the new creation as near as they are to you now. We hope to worship you together, without pain and loneliness, when we are overwhelmed by your beauty and goodness, unmarred or restricted by present realities. Give us mercy while we wait. Keep our eyes on Christ, who conquered death and poured out grace, so someday we can rejoice forever.

For those that have lost their love, have mercy. We were two, and become one. We needed a helper in this life, and you provided us another for our soul to long for. Now, we feel this part missing from ourselves. We were not ready to do this alone, to live life without them. Yet, in your will, we wait. Someday Lord, we hope that we will be united, and for once in full unity of spirit like our flesh once was. We hope to stand once again before you our Maker, unashamed and unabandoned. Give us mercy while we wait. Keep our eyes on Christ, who conquered death and poured out grace, so someday we can rejoice forever.