大象传媒

A spiritual comment and prayer to start the day with Hope Lonergan

Good morning.

A couple of weeks ago I had a visit to the hospital 鈥� which, as we know, is always a fun, happening place to be. I was last admitted in 2015. Since then there鈥檚 been a noticeable decline in some of the 鈥渁menities鈥� and a sagging morale amongst the staff. But, in spite of these drawbacks, I also observed the best of the NHS. Especially during long stretches of night where 鈥� in-between people watching 鈥� I counted cheap, fissured ceiling tiles until morning cracked the horizon.

There was an older guy on a bed in the corridor. He was senile and partially impaired by alcohol withdrawal. He also had a broken back. He kept trying to assert his independent spirit and clamber out of the bed to 鈥渢ake myself to hospital鈥� (even though he was already there). He also wanted to rope in harried, overburdened nurses to sing drinking songs with him; to talk about his favourite dogs (Irish setter). Nurses could have treated a 鈥渄ifficult鈥� patient like this as if they鈥檙e an insolent child; a problem to be swatted away. Instead they sang the songs and talked about dogs and didn鈥檛 once show a hint of suppressed ire. And throughout a 12 hour night shift, this fa莽ade didn鈥檛 break even once.

So today, I pray for the people who keep us alive, who keep us well, and who discuss the merits of an Irish setter at 3 in the morning, despite such difficult circumstances. It truly is a vocation and much appreciated by myself and many. My Mum and my Aunty were part of the same work force for the bulk of their lives so I鈥檝e witnessed the strong, upstanding individuals it produces.

Amen.