He Wore a Chaplains Shirt

The following is a word of appreciation I wrote to the New Zealand Chaplains group following my time in hospital in 2022 after a near fatal accident which nearly took my life.

To whom this may concern,

Absolutely, without question, God is great, and few individuals are lucky to serve him on a daily basis.

On July 7 kissing my wife goodbye as she put my cell phone in my back pocket and rode down the drive on my bike with the intention of cycling my regular fifty kms from Te Awamutu which would take in the streets of neighbouring Hamilton City.

It would not be until mid-September, until I returned home, having spent the period in Hamilton’s intensive Care Unit, Ward M2 and ABI in Auckland.

I am unsure of the exact date, but told, it was sometime in August I can recall a woman in face mask rubbing and kissing my arm.

In those moments of regaining consciousness, I was confused as to who this woman was, but I could tell by the kisses that this was my wife, Mandy.

I vaguely recall her telling me I had been involved in an accident and was in hospital, and I am quite sure the first thing I mentioned was that I could feel the weight of prayer offered on my behalf, I was aware God was with me.

Although in a coma and heavily influenced by drugs, I was aware of certain people being around me like a nurse, my family, a member of my church pastoral team and someone called Brian who was in and out of those moments. He was the one wearing the chaplain’s shirt.

As I became more lucid and checking memory with Mandy as to what was real and what was drug induced memory, I spoke about Brians presence and his prayers.

It was later I found out how instrumental Brian had been during this time period I was unconscious.

Mandy and the family speak highly of Brian’s commitment to me in visiting on regular occasions each day and the support he provided for them.

He certainly wore the chaplain’s shirt, both physically and spiritually.

Mandy was and will be forever appreciative of the time, commitment, and compassion, he showed in being the hands and feet of Jesus at the time.

Although I can say, had I not met Brian recently, I may have passed him in the street without recognition, so much as my memories were, but I was always aware and appreciative of his presence, it gave me a sense of peace when under the influence of administered drugs.

I understand Brian was not the only member of the team who had visited and made supplication for healing on my behalf, I appreciate their time and commitment.

Once released from ICU, I spent weeks in a general ward and recall, chaplain Lance Langley sitting by my bedside praying and comforting me.

A year plus on as a part of my recovery, I joined the volunteers at parkrun, a 5km run around Hamilton Lake on Saturday.

Mandy has been involved as an athlete for years and before my accident I would bike through to Hamilton and meet up as she was finishing for coffee.

It was only in recent weeks that my family told me that the Lance I spoke to on a regular basis was the chaplain I had prayed with and he too, like Brian and the rest of the team were at my side on a regular basis.

Somewhere in the blur I recalled saying to Brian, when this is all over, we must have coffee, because even then I recall he was there.

There is one thing I have understood from this experience is that King David was correct when he wrote the 23^rd Psalm.

Even though I walk
    through the darkest valley,^[a]
I will fear no evil,
    for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.

Brian may well have worn the chaplain’s shirt, but I do believe God had both appointed and anointed him to help me through that dark valley.

Having gone through all the trauma at the time it was great for Mandy and me to be able to catch up with Brian and acknowledge the hard testing times he put in with both me and my family.

Brian was able that day to facilitate a trip back to ICU and had a chance to catch up with others whom I did not recognise but knew they had also worked on my recovery.

There is no way or words that can really express our gratitude for their work except to say, “Thank You.”

Brian, Lance, and the rest of the team may have “just” been wearing the chaplain’s shirt during those days, but I know, those who were wearing the shirt were walking with God.

I want to finish this off with a verse from the book of 2 Samuel 7 as King David sat before the Lord although speaking of the new temple, he was to build I hope these words will pass onto the chaplaincy team.
Now be pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight; for you, Sovereign Lord, have spoken, and with your blessing the house of your servant will be blessed forever.”

I thank God daily for you and may you continue to bring peace and assurance of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.