The first two patients on the schedule for the free dental clinic shared the same last name, so I called out both first names.  Two people rose and approached my table; as they drew closer I could see they were younger than I’d expected.

“We heard this clinic is open to everyone so we got here early,” Tina begins.

“That’s great!” I reply.  I hand them each an intake form on a clipboard and tell them to let me know if they have questions.  Tony looks puzzled by the form; Tina leans over and explains a few things, and he slowly begins filling it out, with occasional assistance from Tina.

“Are you two sister and brother?” I ask, noting family resemblance.  Tina smiles and nods.  “And I see you came all the way from Tigard,” I continue.  “That’s quite a drive.”

“We both really need to see a dentist,” Tina says. “Our teeth hurt so bad we can’t sleep at night anymore.  The nurse at our high school found this clinic for us and helped us get on the schedule.”

“Well, I’m glad you’re here, we can definitely help you.  If you don’t mind my asking, what’s your living situation at the moment?”

Tina brightens up.  “Really good!  We’d been living in a motel, which wasn’t great, but a social worker at school helped us find an apartment.  I work at a Subway after school and on weekends, and with the money I make from that we can afford the apartment.”

“Wow, that’s a lot of responsibility for you to manage.  I’m really impressed.”

Tina smiles proudly.  Then she comes to the place on the form that asks about drug and alcohol use, and looks up.  “I’m not sure what I should put here …”

“It’s super important that you are honest—it helps them give you the safest and best care.”

“It’s not like I never go to a party and have a couple drinks, but it’s not the way it used to be.  I could see the path that the kids I used to hang with were on, and it’s no good.  I’m much happier now just doing school and working at my job.  And helping Tony …”

“Is your mom or anyone else like that in the picture?”

“We see our mom sometimes, it depends on how she’s doing.  Sometimes she’s OK to be around, other times …” she trails off.  “It’s better this way.”

Tina and Tony have finished their forms, but the dentist isn’t ready yet, so I continue.  “What interests you in school?  What are your hopes?”

“I love art!”  Tina whips a notebook out of her backpack and shows me colorful sketches.  “I hope to go to college some day and do more.  I don’t really love math, but it’s OK.  I work hard at it and I get A’s.”

The clinic manager pops her head in and says she can take both Tina and Tony out to the van now. 

“Keep up your amazing work, Tina!  I hope you both are feeling better soon.”

A bit later I step onto the van, and I find Tina and Tony seated on the bench where patients are asked to rest for a few minutes after care.  They each hold up a clear plastic and display a bloody tooth—and big smiles.

◊

In addition to part-time work as a hospital chaplain, I have served for several years as a consultant with the Care & Connect program at Medical Teams International.  This program provides free urgent dental care and basic medical screenings to marginalized populations and, to the extent possible, connects patients with providers who can address their needs more comprehensively.  It’s a privilege to work with this amazing team and their safety net partners to serve those facing the greatest barriers to accessing care.

Medical Teams is a faith-based nonprofit grounded in the belief that every person is made in the image of God, and deserves love and the chance for a better life, health, and wholeness.  I believe this, too.  While most of Medical Teams’s work is overseas, they have long acknowledged the needs here at home, and the Care & Connect program works to fill a critical gap in the U.S. health care safety net.  Currently active only in Oregon and Washington, the challenges of operating and funding Care & Connect often feel overwhelming, yet we share a vision that this type of care will someday be available everywhere.

One piece of this vision is spiritual care, so I’ve served as an intake coordinator to assess the needs and opportunities for chaplaincy in this setting.  Tina and Tony were among the first patients I encountered, and I felt with them the same connection I feel with many patients in the hospital.  Living in circumstances that break my heart, but with a spirit that fills me with awe and admiration.  Suffering the ill effects of our dysfunctional health system, where so many go without care that most of us take for granted.  Sharing only a brief conversation that leaves most of their lives shrouded in mystery, but connecting in a way that feeds my hope that the care we provided that day helps them move their lives in a good direction.

After a few clinics a new mantra rose for me:  chaplaincy isn’t a role, it’s an attitude.  In this setting we could never afford paid chaplains nor consistently staff volunteer chaplains, but that’s not what’s really needed.  For the most part, all that’s required is the attitude expected of every chaplain: 

• Belief in the inherent worth of each person
• Desire to know each person’s journey, no matter how difficult
• Compassion for each person’s suffering, and the belief that accompanying them in their suffering may in some way help ease it; and
• Understanding that one can offer little in return, but that it may nonetheless be enough. 

So now, instead of trying to figure out how to assign chaplains to clinics, we’ve decided to focus on building chaplaincy attitude and skills in all who serve in these clinics.

Really, though, chaplaincy attitude shouldn’t be limited to such places.  My vision for Elder Chaplain is that it serves as a forum where we can all learn and practice chaplaincy attitude, with each other and with all whom we encounter.  I don’t want to minimize the importance of the training chaplains receive, nor fail to acknowledge the settings (like hospitals) where that training is required. That said, for the most part we don’t need those skills in order to show up well for others.  Whether it’s a colleague at work or a person like Tina standing in line next to you, a little bit of chaplaincy attitude just might make a big difference in their day, maybe even in their life.

Wishing healing and peace to all this holiday season …