A thankful remembrance

Reflecting on my tenure as the first board certified clinical pastoral care provider of Avera Marshall Regional Medical Center within Marshall’s community since my retirement in August 2017, and preparing to move to Mankato, these words from a poem comes to mind, “Only one life, twill soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last.”

Goodbyes are moments of reflection. Accordingly, I’m taking this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude to my sisters and brothers, by they my neighbors, friends, clergy, medical colleagues, and patients with their family friends for allowing me to join them on life’s journey by ministering to their spiritual/emotional needs during their stressful events such as physical suffering and trauma, as well as those joyful events of new births or a successful recovery from hospitalization.

My own life’s journey has been enriched by being involved in our community’s Avera health care events. I cherish my fraternal relationships with Avera’s sponsors the Benedictine and Presentation Sisters, the Marshall Area Ministerial Association (MAMA), the Kitchen Table Shelf, Esther’s Kitchen, the Gideon’s Bible Society, the national Knights of Columbus, the Center of Advance Palliative Care, the College of Pastoral Care & Psychotherapy, the Avera Hospice and Palliative Care team, and the Prairie Home Care & Hospice staff members.

My chaplaincy was enhanced by ministering alongside of dedicated mission directors, Steve Tappe and Raymond Weiss, physicians, nurses, nursing assistants, physical therapists, social workers, social activities director, pharmacists, IT staff, Behavioral Health Care staff, nutrition services team, volunteers, maintenance and housekeeping staff, and unit/office secretaries; all united as a holistic healthcare team to fulfill the healing Gospel of Jesus. Their words and ministries reflect: “Only one life, twill soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last.”

Bob Hope’s song, “Thanks for the Memories,” summarizes my feelings as I recall my Avera Marshall Center, Avera Morningside Heights Nursing Home and Prairie Home Care and Hospice clinical chaplaincy.

In the words of the Apostle Paul be assured that I will “thank God on every remembrance of you” Certainly, Cindy, my wife and my own life has been blessed in our relationships within Marshall’s community.

As I bid you farewell: “Pray for me, as I will pray for you, until we merrily meet in heaven” Remembering during our earthly sojourn, “Only my life, twill soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last.”

God’s abiding peace!

Chopp is a clinical chaplain emeritus, MDiv, BCC.