Front Row Seat

Front row seats are great when you are at your favorite concert, sports event or play.  There is nothing like getting up close to see everything up close.  Seeing, smelling, and feeling, it’s almost like being on stage yourself.  There are times in our lives that we are given a front row seat to people, places and things that take us out of our comfort zone.  I am a believer that when we are out of our comfort zone, it is when we are the most powerful and it is when we do the most growing.

A few years ago while working for a manufacturing plant, I was in charge of their logistics department.  The man I hired to be my assistant manager quickly became a close friend.  I have shared the thought that people come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime, and he would be no exception.

His daughter, after a series of illnesses, was diagnosed with cancer.  She was bright, bubbly and like her mother and father; had a gift of loving life and sharing that with others.  I visited her the day that did exploratory surgery to find out where the cancer is and how it has progressed.  Just as I entered her room her father texted me and said “she doesn’t know, please don’t tell her.”  He was not at the hospital.  I was reading this as I walked into the room.

It had been a while since I last saw her.  Instead of a bubbly, healthy looking, active athlete, there was a bubbly, skinny, brave child that lay in the bed.  Her smile was ear to ear when she realized I was there, her sister and a friend where there too.  I always wear a cross necklace when I do hospital visits, I used to think it was for my strength.  We visited and talked and I could tell she was getting tired.  It would be soon time for her to sleep.  I prayed with her, hugged her and told her I loved her.  And I left.  I made it to the elevator door and I had a chest pain.  I was beginning to cry as I knew that she had little time on this earth.  Why was MY chest hurting?  I grabbed it and realized what I grabbed was not my chest, it was my cross.  This was a particular meaningful cross to me, very sentimental.  In that moment I walked right back to her room, put it around her neck and kissed her forehead, without saying a word, only tears in my eyes.   Her father told me she loved the necklace.  She never let go of it.  She was holding it when she finally went to sleep for the last time.

The experience with her father, his family and that little girl was my front row seat to life, love and death.  Not words that you would normally speak of in the same sentence.  I am a better person, a better care giver and a better human being for having sat in that front row seat.  What front row seats have you had in your life.  Did you realize you had one?

We can be the change we seek in this world, and in ourselves.  One day.  One journey.  One person.  One front row seat at a time.

Royal D. Bush serves as Interfaith Chaplain.  He has studied at Andersonville Theological Seminary, and the International Institute of Faith Based Counseling.  He also holds a Bachelor Degree in business administration. He is available for premarital coaching, couples coaching, life coaching, and pastoral care in the Nebraska and Iowa area.

Inclusive Life offers both nondenominational and nonreligious care-serving all, without exception!  Inclusive Life offers Wedding Ministers, Premarital Coaching, Couples Coaching, Funeral Ministers, End of Life Planning, and Pastoral Care. To reach Chaplain Royal or Chaplain Beth please email info@inclusivelife.org OR phone 402-575-7006.

INCLUSIVE LIFE

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