My First Day of CPE at Good Sam

It’s my first day of CPE (Clinical Pastoral  Education) internship at Good Samaritan Hospital. I’m on my way to becoming a certified chaplain, and it’s pretty exciting. After my bilateral hip replacement surgery last year, all my back pain went away. Up until then I thought it was my back, and I felt I had to live with pain for the rest of my life. Then my brother introduced me to a specialist who told me those magic words,  “It’s not your back. It’s your hips, and it’s 100% recoverable with surgery. ” A few months ago, the doctor gave me full clearance to go live my life. Now I feel God has given me a new life and I want to give it back to Him and serve Him with my new hips. So begins my new journey to becoming a chaplin.

I went through an online orientation yesterday and it provided an overview of the PIH (Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital).  According to the presenter, one of the main philosophy of PIH is to show empathy. It means to see, hear, feel,  and understand people in their shoes. It reminded me of Romans 12:15 where it says, “Rejoice with those who Rejoice,  and weep with those who weep.” Isn’t this something that all of us as Christians should do? “Yes!” I said aloud in my room. I don’t know where this new journey will lead me, but I know God will walk with me and guide me. May He teach me to be Bible centered and be humble,  compassionate,  and empathetic.