God’s Calming Presence

In more than thirty years of ministry I have had the distinct blessing to be present with families during grief and tragedy. I will never forget the first time I experienced this blessing. I was called to a hospital after a serious motorcycle accident. I was blessed more than the family that day.

About an hour before I received the call, I had passed an accident scene on the side of the road. At the time I had no idea I would soon be an intimate part of the family. When I arrived at the hospital the patient was in ICU holding on to life.

I wasn’t a doctor who had any information. I wasn’t even their priest. I had never met them before. They weren’t even Orthodox. The hospital chaplain was away and asked me to do him a favor. He needed someone to go to the family. All I could do was pray silently in the hallway.

This is the story that comes to my mind today as I read Saint Paul’s message for us. During the storm, Christ came to the disciples’ boat and brought them peace. The storm calmed in His presence.

At that time, Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray. And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out; for they all saw him, and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; have no fear.” And he entered the boat with them and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened. And when they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret.

Galatians 6.45-53

I experienced something similar that night in the hospital. As I stood silently praying the Psalms, the family stood crying and consoling each other. Eventually, after entering the ICU and praying for the victim, I left to return home. I never saw them again. The young man died that night.

The next morning the chaplain called me. “I don’t know what you did last night, but the family hasn’t stopped talking about you.” I was shocked by his comment and told him all I did was stand there and pray silently. “That’s all they needed. You brought Jesus to them.”

I have spent many hours in hospital rooms since, but it is always the same. I know I am only there to bring Jesus to them in their moment of grief or tragedy. By God’s grace, in my little often silent way, He calms their fear and suffering.

It is not always about what you say to someone who is suffering. In fact, it is rarely what you say. In the moment of pain and suffering, you bring Jesus to people in your ‘mere’ act of love and presence. In fact, I often tell people visiting the hospital is a sacrament they perform.

The Sacraments are the physical presence of God’s grace. When you stand, even silently praying, with someone who is suffering, you are allowing God’s grace to pour over that person. You are performing the sacrament of love. Never underestimate the power of your presence.

Our loving presence allows others to feel God’s presence in those moments. I have witnessed it with my own eyes. I will never see that family again, but I am thankful they allowed me to experience God’s grace that night. I wonder sometimes if I was helped more than they were.