Here I am, less than a week to start uni and not long before I begin my first placement. In many ways, I'm looking forward to getting started. In other ways I'm a bit overwhelmed and daunted by the whole thing. I've so much to learn and it really doesn't seem long enough a time to learn all I think I might need to.
So, I'm getting a wee bit ahead of myself thinking about my summer placement. The earliest is can be is next summer, but it can be as late as summer 2014, just before I get to probation. Many people have said to me "if you get the chance to go abroad for a placement, go" and I was starting to think that was God's message. Now, I'm not so sure.
Yesterday, from left of field, I realised I am terrified of how to deal with seriously ill and dying children. It's not I don't care, quiet the opposite. So much so I couldn't visit Robin House when I was invited before it opened as I knew it would upset me too much. This although I know it, and Rachel House are exceptionally positive places and are about life, not death.
Funny how this hit me. I was thinking of placements and logistics of placements abroad (yes, yet again, getting ahead of myself). Me thinks if this hits me when I am thinking of placements, maybe a hospital/hospice chaplaincy placement is where God wants me to go. Go where I am scared of. Because that's probably exactly where I need to go.
Hospital or hospice chaplaincy placements are also enormously rewarding and not a little challenging. As always, the issue is finding a qualified supervisor.
ReplyDeleteI did a stint in Edinburgh Royal as part of the Pastoral Care and Theology course. It became very clear to me that I was not called to hospital chaplaincy, but it has definitely made hospital visits to parishioners much easier.