Volunteer Chaplain Recognition Dinner

23 Nov 99 Passavant

I must warn you… When our present Methodist pastor given this charge.. warned.. “This one guy named Bradbury.. a loose canon.” Bear with me while I rumble around the deck this evening.

Haven’t always had the best of luck with ministers… ---Meth. Minister “Can’t see the clock.” I bought a huge one and placed it in the front pew. He now tells the story and laughs. He didn’t then. ---1st Meth in S’field.. “music for the common people” .. sent him back his check.. for the common people.

My first memorable church experience.. Morriville church

Frankly, I’d given up on finding an available date.. one thing drew me.. Bruce Pilcher’s insistence on making this a night of thanks.. it may embarrass him to hear this recounted, but again and again he went on about how much he appreciates all of you and what you do. A high praise. On the other hand, Cardinal fans are looking for any reason to be thankful this season.

Frankly, it’s nice to be here without giving blood.

I must admit, I’m a counterfeit chaplain. I’ve snuck into nearly every hospital in our area after hours with a clerical collar given me as a play prop by a Lutheran pastor. Dr. Lillpop caught me last April… noted that my secularism was showing. 5th floor of Memorial, biggest triumph.. asked where I’d parked.. I’m sure to check out my license plate.. they didn’t know I also had a metal dashboard “clergy” plate.. good for parking.

My mother died a year ago this past summer.. St. John’s.. They called in the chaplain on duty.. looked all of 16 and I think we were his first assignment.. nervous.. Asked to walk into a small sitting room where he knew no one, at the time of the most profound shock and tragedy in our lives, then get to know us well enough in 10 minutes to pray with us. At no time have I ever admired your job more than at that moment. I wasn’t thinking about Mom, about myself, about anything but how the simple love and devotion to Jesus drove this young man to make this bold move. He was nervous. He was terrified, but he loved the Lord. As a result, he was wonderful. As a result, I prayed with my father for the first time in my life.

I know little about your job except that I suspect you minister to two types of people.. those without a pastor and those whose pastor is not available. In neither case do you have the comfort of knowing a great deal about those to whom you’re ministering.

Bruce Charlesworth… Pilcher… Todd Burrus.. “How can a person do that?” “Instead, I sat near Bruce and prayed for him.”

Yesterday a lady told me she heard I was speaking tonight.. LeRoy Hedrick.. sleeping in adjoining I-C waiting room.. lady’s husband was dying.. frightened to death.. Leroy patiently lead the lady through Christ’s promise of salvation.. “I’d never heard the gospel put so plainly and so beautifully. The transformation in that lady’s spirit was miraculous.”

My testimony…

In short, I’d heard friends and family witness to me my whole life, but it has always been strangers who’ve affected me most deeply. You may be a stranger to many. I want you to know what great effect you can have.

A speech like this should contain some advice.. that’s usually the point of my speaking… that and encouragement. My advice is very little.. What could I possibly say to you who know your calling more deeply than I do?

Except by way of encouragement, I’d give you this advice: To my camp counselors: (and to myself as I teach)

Are you real?
Will you love me?

I encourage you to stay real. To stay as real as Leroy was to that lady in the I-C waiting room.. as real as Bruce was to Valerie Charlesworth when she found that her daddy had just died.

I encourage you to continue to love. One of my 7th-graders is now on 5th floor of Memorial. Tried to take his life Sunday night. My prayer for the past two days has been simple.. Lord, show us how to love. I don’t know the cause but I know love is the answer.

I take 8th-graders to the nursing homes twice a year.. Christmas and Easter. I tell them: Touch! Touch! Touch! Brian. “She’s my grandma!” We all need to be reminded how to love.

Your job requires boldness.. so does Christ.. Craig-Henk-Richard Luzerne.

And don’t worry too much if you are never thanked properly. Conway Twitty story.

You’re not home yet. But when you get there, I want to come visit.

PAGE

PAGE 3

PAGE 1

PAGE 3