I started my new career on January 6 of this year, and while I never really expected to be a chaplain, I have to say I never could have imagined a job that suited me more in regard to my personality, work ethic and spiritual inclinations.
I was actually kind of surprised that YPG worked out the way it did. I remember my wife telling me right when I started that lots of people end up retiring from YPG. I guess that’s what I expected, too, but it didn’t work out that way. I got laid off from being a DC, and then I was a technical writer for Safety for a couple years, and then I got laterally transferred to Section 55, which is part time/on call, but full time instead, but with a pretty big pay cut. Worked for 55 for a little more than 6 years, and then they eliminated the full time designation for me and the other 2 full timers, and then we were just part time like everyone else in the section.
That lasted for a while, but then testing slowed down, and that meant the work did, too. Money started being scarce, along with work. I began looking for full time gigs doing pretty much anything that would be full time. It lasted a while like that, but nothing took. Then business eventually picked back up and I started working a little more for 55. Then one day I was working at a GP and keeping site security. One day I got to the site before 6 and it was very dark. I backed up my truck to get light on the test item and a backed into a light cart, slightly denting my truck, which resulted in an ARB review, which resulted in a review, which resulted in too many points on my military driver’s license. Ultimately, that resulted in me being terminated by TRAX and suddenly in the market for a full time job, as soon as I could find one.
One of the jobs I had applied for when I went part time from 55 was at YRMC as a staff chaplain, which I didn’t even get a call back for because it turned out it required an Mdiv, and my masters was not in divinity so that meant I did not qualify for the position.
The next few months were job application after job application, and I even went so far as to get my substitute teacher credential stuff started again. Still no luck. Then I saw a listing on Indeed.com for a chaplain job at the hospital again, but this time it was for Chaplain Resident, and I was hirable for a year long residency, and following a pretty unorthodox interview, here I am today.
Employed and very happy with my job, even though it comes with a petty heavy grief load at times. It also came with a great bunch of fellow chaplains.
So now I get to spend my days helping those who need comfort during tough periods hopefully find it. Never had a more worthwhile job in my life. Spiritual Care at Onvida Health is an extraordinary place to work. The people in the picture are my coworkers from my first CPE unit. An eclectic and super diverse and multi-denominational group of absolutely extraordinary people.
Never in my life did I think of being a chaplain, but on reflecting back on my losses I recollected a nurse that took care of my mother during her last hospital stay before she passed. I guess she was a hospice nurse of some kind and not officially a chaplain, but she might as well have been. I remember her talking to me and advising me how I might want to also talk to my mom, which I did. I don’t remember her name, but I remember her.
If anyone contributed to who I am today, at this moment, it was that RN. And Jesus. Especially him.
A Work in Progress 