By Steve Bartlett, Saint Barnabas Episcopal Church, Scottsdale AZ
In 2016 I was asked to be on a committee at my church to choose a pastoral care training package. We chose Community of Hope International and for 4 years I was the training facilitator. Over those 4 years we commissioned about 40 lay chaplains. It was a fulfilling experience to help people through the course materials. The priest in charge of pastoral care when we started training always said, “Don’t just confine your ministry to the church.” That has always stayed with me.
Then I had the honor of being the treasurer for COHI for 5 years. I learned a lot more about the organization through this work and was able to meet chaplains from around the country at the annual meetings. I cherish those memories.
I retired from the treasurer’s position earlier this year, it seemed like the right time for me to move on to something else. I have spent a lot of time over the last year thinking and praying about what should be next. The compassionate listening part of the curriculum has always been the most meaningful to me. And I wanted to do something with that.
I love to travel, so even despite the hassles, going to the airport is usually a joyous occasion for me. It occurred to me that there are people at the airport that don’t find it a joyous experience. They might just not like to fly or are traveling for some unhappy reason.
Just after I retired from COHI I was on the California coast in my happy place to collect my thoughts and stare at the ocean. One morning as I was watching the open water swimmers the guy standing next to me said something like, “that must take a lot of focus.” The conversation went from there to presence, centering prayer, Richard Rohr and Thomas Keating. As it turns out, that guy is a Lutheran minister and spiritual director. We walked to a coffee shop, and he was the first person I talked to about my airport idea. His response was, “God is leading and calling you with a purpose.”
I have completed my training at Sky Harbor airport as a chaplain. Last week was the first shift on my own. One afternoon a week I walk the terminals wearing a vest that says “Navigator Chaplain.” My last shift I got over 13,000 steps in. I just keep an eye out for anyone that looks as though they could use a listener. A lot of what I do is wayfinding, it is easy to get lost in an airport. A woman did ask for a hug because she was feeling anxious about her trip. So far that hug is the only “chaplain thing” I’ve done but I’m there if someone needs me. Our COHI training prepares us to be compassionate listeners for those who are anxious, lost or alone - wherever they are on life’s journey.
Have you taken your COHI training out into the world? Email Carolyn Dobbs to share your story.