A Summer of Learning How to Simply Be with Others

This summer I was in Orlando, FL working as a chaplain at a hospital. The summer was filled with over 100 visits with patients and families as they entered the walls of the hospital on the west side of Orlando not far away from the grounds of Disney World - a place full of memories from a time before the seminary. The summer brought many of these memories back up, while at the same time reminding me of the sacrifices I have made for this beautiful vocation. These sacrifices we make throughout our life - whether big or small - do not go unnoticed by Our Lord. 

My time in the hospital was blessed by the Holy Spirit. This summer I was a part of seven sacraments of the anointing of the sick, twice I was able to bring the Blessed Sacrament to those bound in the hospital, and twice I led a Gospel choir as we sang throughout the halls of the hospital. This summer God taught me more about myself and the heart He has placed in me. I learned that I desire to be with people at all moments of life. Sure, it is easy to rejoice with those who are rejoicing, but I learned that it is not always fun to mourn with those who are mourning, however, once I entered into the moment my heart would find peace with those mourning. 

This summer taught me how important it is to just simply be with others. I do not have all the answers to the problems and difficulties of life, and that is fine. We do not always have to have something to say to someone, sometimes silence is exactly what the moment is begging for. Sometimes all we really want is someone to sit with us and through their peaceful and warming presence remind us that we are SEEN, KNOWN, & LOVED BY GOD! This is what I wanted everyone to be reminded of once I left the room. We constantly forget this simple fact. Sometimes we need a reminder, and we can receive this reminder through others being with us. 

Lastly, this summer taught me how beautiful the sacrament of the anointing of the sick truly is. The sacrament is for the one who is sick, yet all present can partake in the sacrament by praying for the one receiving the anointing. It is a beautiful reminder that God does not desire us to be sick, He wants to heal us, and the greatest healing is not physical, it is spiritual; it is the forgiveness of sins and our salvation.

Alex Becker, Seminarian

Alex and the Gospel choir who twice during the summer sang for patients throughout the halls of the hospital