{"id":3605,"date":"2012-02-08T16:22:39","date_gmt":"2012-02-08T16:22:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/prayables\/?p=3605"},"modified":"2012-02-08T17:53:46","modified_gmt":"2012-02-08T17:53:46","slug":"touching-others-who-seem-untouchable","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/prayables\/2012\/02\/touching-others-who-seem-untouchable.html","title":{"rendered":"Touching Others Who Seem Untouchable"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Emergency-room personnel transported him to the cardiac floor.\u00a0 Long hair,
\nunshaven, dirty, dangerously obese and a black motorcycle jacket tossed on
\nthe bottom shelf of the stretcher – an outsider to this sterile world of
\nshining terrazzo floors, efficient uniformed professionals and strict
\ninfection-control procedures.<\/p>\n

Definitely an untouchable!<\/p>\n

The nurses at the station looked wide-eyed as this mound of humanity was
\nwheeled by – each glancing nervously at my friend Bonnie, the head nurse.
\n“Let this one not be mine to admit, bathe and tend to…” was the
\npleading, unspoken message from their inner concern.<\/p>\n

One of the true marks of a leader, a consummate professional, is to do the
\nunthinkable.\u00a0 To touch the untouchable.\u00a0 To tackle the impossible.\u00a0 Yes,
\nit was Bonnie who said, “I want this patient myself.”\u00a0 Highly unusual for
\na head nurse – unconventional – but “the stuff” out of which human spirits
\nthrive, heal and soar.\u00a0 As she donned her latex gloves and proceeded to
\nbathe this huge, filthy man, her heart almost broke.\u00a0 Where was his
\nfamily? Who was his mother?\u00a0 What was he like as a little boy?<\/p>\n

She hummed quietly as she worked to ease the fear and embarrassment she
\nknew he must have been feeling.\u00a0 And then on a whim she said, “We don’t
\nhave time for back rubs much in hospitals these days, but I bet one would
\nreally feel good.\u00a0 And, it would help you relax your muscles and start to
\nheal.\u00a0 That is what this place is all about – a place to heal.”<\/p>\n

All in a day’s work.\u00a0 Touching the untouchable.<\/p>\n

His thick, scaly, ruddy skin told a story of an abusive lifestyle.
\nProbably lots of addictive behavior, to food, alcohol and drugs.\u00a0 As
\nBonnie rubbed the taut muscles, she hummed and prayed.\u00a0 Prayed for the
\nsoul of a little boy grown up, rejected by life’s rudeness and striving
\nfor acceptance in a hard, hostile world.<\/p>\n

The finale – warmed lotion and baby powder.\u00a0 Almost laughable – such a
\ncontrast on this huge, rugged surface.\u00a0 As he rolled over onto his back,
\ntears rolled down his cheek.\u00a0 With amazingly beautiful brown eyes, he
\nsmiled and said in a quivering voice, “No one has touched me for years.”
\nHis chin trembled.\u00a0 “Thank you.\u00a0 I am healing.”<\/p>\n

In a day when we have increasing concern about the appropriateness of
\ntouch, Bonnie taught this hurting world to still dare to touch the
\nuntouchable through eye contact, a warm handshake, a concerned voice – or
\nthe physical reassurance of warmed lotion and baby powder.<\/p>\n

Christopher Ian Chenoweth, Positive Christianity<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

READ MORE and enjoy these features from the Daily Prayable! <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2192 Daily Story<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2192 Daily Scripture<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2192 Daily Prayer
\n<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2192 Daily Music<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2192 Daily Joke<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2192 Daily Quote<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Emergency-room personnel transported him to the cardiac floor.\u00a0 Long hair, unshaven, dirty, dangerously obese and a black motorcycle jacket tossed on the bottom shelf of the stretcher – an outsider to this sterile world of shining terrazzo floors, efficient uniformed professionals and strict infection-control procedures. Definitely an untouchable! 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