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The Pastoral Lens
Code Blue
Tuesday, February 18, 2003
I enjoyed a very nice evening out with my wife for Valentine's Day this year. After getting home and putting our children into bed, we stayed up talking and reflecting on the relaxing dinner we had just enjoyed. We headed to bed late, looking forward to a lazy start to our Saturday. This particular Saturday would be different, however, as a few others have been since coming to pastor in Wallaceburg almost 10 years ago.The phone rang at 7:25 am, rousing me from my Saturday morning slumber. "It's Sydenham Hospital. We have a code blue in emerge." I groggily responded with a promise to be there as quickly as possible. For those who may be unaware of the term, a "code blue" signifies a cardiac arrest or similar life-threatening trauma. The hospital calls the immediate family as well as the scheduled pastor who is on call for such situations. I have responded to approximately 25-30 of these calls during my time here. None of them have been easy and all of them are sudden and unexpected to those involved.
I got dressed in a hurry, grabbed my Bible, and rushed out the door. I spent the 3-4 minutes driving to the hospital crying out to the Lord in prayer, asking Him to comfort this family and give to me the wisdom to say the right thing (or NOT say the right thing, as the case may be). As it turned out, I arrived simultaneously with 2 of the family members. We made our way to a private room outside of the Emergency area to await the doctor. I investigated further, on behalf of the family, to see about the condition of the man who had "coded" earlier. I was told the grim news of his death. As I re-entered the quiet room where the family had gathered, I arrived just as the doctor came in to give them the sad news. I can't describe the pain and sorrow the family is experiencing, nor can I convey to you how helpless one feels in such a situation. I quietly pray in my corner of the room, amidst the loud cries of some of the family. I want to tell them that the Lord cares about them and feels their pain. I will wait for the right time to share with words, but for now, I will let the Lord minister to them through tears mingled with shocked silence.
Eventually, we make our way back across the hall to the cubicle in the emergency department where the deceased man is lying. We gather around his bed and I lead in prayer, sharing from the familiar words of Psalm 23: "The LORD is my shepherd, there is nothing I shall want; He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside still waters; He restores my soul....." The words of this passage of Scripture have ministered comfort to many.
I'm never the same after incidents like this one. Even though I did not know the deceased man or his family, somehow the loss is still personal. This particular death was so much like my own father's almost 15 years ago. I realized that the pain of that time still lingers. We said our good-byes and left the hospital. My day has now been altered, forcing me to focus on what really matters in my life. I arrive home to my family, just a little more grateful for them now than I was before I left. My Good Shepherd keeps watch over them, even when I'm gone.
