Chaplains are every day, people

I've had a lot of odd conversations over the years but lately most of them turn into questions about the way I act. This picture is what I use on my Facebook page. I don't go in there very often because, well, I'm just too busy, but friends talked me into doing a page. Just to shock them a bit, I picked the photo from Ripley's Believe It Or Not museum. Most people think I'm too serious because of what I cover on this blog and write, so they were not prepared to discover I do have a sense of humor. The impression people get when they hear the title of Chaplain, is a stuffy, "holier" person instead of just a regular person wanting to help others.

We come from all walks of life, all faiths and enter into all kinds of service. The key word is "service" as we have been called to do. Some work in the prisons, police departments, fire departments, other civilian arenas, with motorcycle groups, the military and veterans. Some are missionaries and some are ministers. I'm a veteran's chaplain, but I help anyone with PTSD. While I focus on PTSD, I also help anyone in need. This happens all the time. If I happen to be in uniform, I get stopped in grocery stores and end up talking for a long time. My husband has gotten used to this happening whenever he sees the uniform.

The thing people need to remember is that Chaplains are "every day" just people, trying to help when we are needed so that they know they are not alone, or forgotten and have someone to talk to. It's very hard to talk to someone that has no clue what you're talking about especially when the weight of the world is on your shoulders. How can a veteran talk to someone that has no understanding what they went through comfortably? How can a soldier talk to someone when they have to stop and explain what an acronym means? How can a firefighter talk about what they went through when people cannot get past a term they use "crispy cridder" as if they are evil?

We live like anyone else, feel the same heartaches and disappointments, family problems, financial problems and pressures of the world like anyone else. We laugh and cry just like anyone else and we even struggle with our faith from time to time. There are times when we cannot find the right words to use or find too many finding it difficult to stop. There are times when no words are needed at all.

Never be afraid to talk to a Chaplain thinking they are "above you" or better than you. Never think they cannot understand what you're talking about because either they were called to work with your group because of their own experience or they have talked with a great number of people to become very aware of what you need to say. For me, well I think I've run out of shocking moments a long time ago. That came with a lot of years and a whole lot of tears.

If you need help and someone recommends a Chaplain, please talk to them without hesitation. They are just people like you. If you get the thought they could never understand, remember this picture and then that notion won't last long.