Day One

The afternoon tour of Tampa General Hospital (TGH) lasted two and a half hours. By the end, I and my other eight classmates, the Summer CPE Intern Chaplains, understood that the hospital was huge and did everything there is to do medically in that facility and that we were an important part of the care team. Our minds boggled, we knew that we had maybe seen a 10th of the hospital. We joked that by the time we actually knew our way around, the 12-week training program would be over.

We learned that it is the chaplain's job to help identify the trauma patient's name, find out their next of kin, and call them. We learned that it is our job to arrange for the family to view the body if the person doesn't make it through.

We understood that we were going to be trained to support people who were in a crisis situation both spiritually and emotionally. Personally, we were there to learn how to connect our hearts with our minds and become more firmly rooted in our ministry. Professionally, we were there to provide support and to listen, to be an advocate for the present moment.

Our supervisor, Rev. Celillon Alteme, was warmly greeted every where he went, and as we were introduced as the newest Intern Chaplaincy team, the staff beamed at us and thanked us for the time that we would spend with them.

Our badges, emblazoned with the title Chaplain, open a multitude of wings and doors. And while it seems strange that that invitation is offered to our little of group of nine upon arrival, I can't help but think that hearts open whenever we are in the present moment, available to support each other spiritually and emotionally with deep listening.