Advent word - play

Not much chance of "play" for me today as I was back in work after six days off, but that got me thinking. I love my job even though it's jolly hard work- and you need a sense of humour to work in healthcare! As a team we have to pull together to support each other and there is often a playfulness in how we interact; this was very much the case yesterday. We laugh, we joke and we take the piss out of each other. Knowing we have each other's backs is really important, as is getting a smile out of a colleague and friend on a tough day.

Our Society's rule states that “as our faith matures we come to recognize Christ’s hidden presence everywhere.” That’s because a maturing faith is paradoxically childlike. It is marked by openness to new ideas, points of view, and experiences, all of which enable us to see again our God, who knows neither time, nor place, nor limitation.

-Br. John Braugh

Have More Fun

Unfortuately this week has been anything but fun! Trying to complete an assignment and coping with a tooth infection (which brought me back from my training residential), I also experienced a very upsetting cardiac arrest event at work (an incredibly rare event).
Today was set aside for more assignment work and a follow up dental appointment - not much opportunity for fun to be found. Sometimes as much as we want a bit of fun there is just no let up- no chance for recreation or just to let our hair down. I'm lucky because I know it won't be that long until I get some respite.
Whilst this week has been incredibly challenging it's also been really affirming.  The teamwork at the arrest was fantastic and through those events, and unpacking it all with my spiritual director, it confirmed for me that I'm working where I want to be.
There was further affirmation yesterday when I spent time with the Wythenshawe hospital  chaplaincy team. I spent time with dementia patients, on neonatal ICU and on the Mental Health unit. It was such a privilege to chat to people and hear a little of their stories and see what gave them hope.
Life is certainly not all fun and games but it is rich and varied, often sad, but in the midst of it all is that hope.

Psalm 16:11
You show me the path of life.
   In your presence there is fullness of joy;
   in your right hand are pleasures for evermore.

Take Care of Your Home

A really difficult task to accomplish when working a 12 hour shift so my plan for today had been to clean out my locker and ensure our communal work areas remained uncluttered. Sadly the best laid plans often get chucked out of the window, especially you're dealing with acutely unwell patients who can deteriorate so quickly despite all our best efforts.
Today there was order in what might of seemed from the outside chaotic. Today a medical team worked together to preserve life, but sometimes even the best of endeavours are unsuccessful.

Luke 15:8
‘Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it?