This tweet is doing the rounds at the moment.
I must confess I found it rather hit and miss. Such is the risk with prescriptive advice listed out on social media.
To be sure, the general principles about sensitivity to patient, family and staff are well worth keeping in mind. Basically the advice could be summed up and don’t be an insufferable pain. I hope most pastors can get thr basics if that.
However, once we have got the principle, I hope we can use some wisdom and flexibility.
Don’t limit yourself to the Psalms. One of my favourite hospital visits was when I asked an elderly man if there was anything he would like me to read (I usually would ask rather than assume initially). He said “read Deuteronomy. I’ve never heard that book. Start at the beginning.” So we did and it led to us doing a preaching series on the book.
You want the time to be natural and to be a friend. So talking naturally about football, the weather etc is fine.
The same rules apply for pastoral advice as meeting them in any other context. Is it wanted and invited?
Similarly re preaching. Remember that they aren’t going to make it to church on Sunday. You may be there exactly because they want and need someone to preach to them. Even if they are intubated/ in a coma, they may be hearing everything. My mum confirmed that she knew what we were saying to her when she was intubated and sedated. One day I’d read her Bible reading notes to her. Another time my dad did go through the sermon he was working on with her … Just as he would at home. When she came round, during the brief time we had with her, my sister asked her if she had heard us talking to her and she nodded to say yes.
Oh and the rule about time is “don’t outstay your welcome” but never a hard and fast “keep it short”. You may be their only company and you may be the only company for a lone family member. Stay as long as they want you and need you there within the hospital’s rules.
Finally, I can’t help but feel that the image conjured up here is if s visit ti and elderly patient, possibly in terminal stages. Those visits are crucial and a two way blessing. However, I’ll never forget having visits from.church including our pastor and a 15 year old in hospital for eye surgery. So it’s important that we don’t stereotype hospital visits.
Like I said it is about need, common sense and being natural.
Faithroots 