I Never Know

By Sister Pam Nosbusch

As I travel around the metropolitan Nashville area visiting my patients, I never know when someone will stop me to ask for prayer or talk to me about a loved one who died on hospice care. Sometimes when I’m at lunch, a worker at the place I’m eating will come out and ask me for prayer once they see my name badge that says “Sister” and “Spiritual Care Coordinator”.

I am happy to provide prayer to the person who asks. I had an experience once where the person getting my food told me about a loved one who had died on Hospice care. She then proceeded to tell me a little bit about this person and how they got good care with the Hospice they had chosen for her loved one. I sensed that this person just needed to talk about it and I was able to provide that listening ear for a few minutes.

As I reflect on these seemingly random encounters, I come to realize that God led me to be where someone needed a spiritual boost. God, I think, helped the other person speak up so that together the person’s needs could be met. I am humbled to be used in this way by God, especially when I never know when the opportunity for ministry in this manner will occur.

I am sure others have had encounters like mine. I find in my own experience that the seemingly smallest of encounters can make a big difference to someone. May God continue to lead us all to those seemingly small encounters that make a big difference.