Personal story
Finding God in the midst of brokenness
Christopher
Newell shares his story of a rather special Christmas
ministry.
Christmas Eve in the chapel of the Royal Hobart Hospital
saw a celebration of the Eucharist which was both ordinary
and extra-ordinary. The congregation had assembled and I, as
the celebrant, arrived. Yet as I donned my stole ready to
preside, I knew that this was hardly the most orthodox of
occasions.
The procession was certainly a little unusual.
Pushed in by two hospital attendants, my hospital bed was
positioned behind the communion table, the head of the bed
raised so I could face the congregation. Assisted by the
Hospital Chaplain, Canon David
Lewis, there was so much to give thanks for, as we
celebrated the Word made flesh and come amongst us. It all
seemed so appropriate, so right. Women came in from the
corridor to receive communion when they saw what was
happening.
Many services around Tasmania were bouncing with
plenty of verve at the good news of Christ born. Our quiet
but meaningful service was facilitated by another injection
of morphine to attend to the soul-piercing agony in my
spine.
Listening to the Gospel message, as the Angel Gabriel
said to Mary ‘do not be afraid’, tears rolled
gently down my face: I realised how deeply blessed we all
were. If ever there were people who had cause to be afraid
it was the broken and vulnerable in this hospital.
Into our midst, God as the Infant Jesus, comes to
attend to our fears. The God who chose to come to us as the
vulnerable and dependent Christ Child knows all about our
human existence. It is humbling and reassuring that we may
find God in those who weep and need someone to wipe their
bottom for them, in the most intimate of moments.
As a church we are so accustomed to a situation where the
hierarchy, especially bishops, are chosen for their energy,
strength, and lack of weakness. Yet the profoundly
counter-cultural nature of the high points of Jesus’
ministry and witness is to be found in his vulnerability as
the dependant growing Child; as the man broken on the
cross.
Celebrating Christmas in the RHH chapel helped us to
recognise the blessings in our midst and the ministry and
presence of God in brokenness and vulnerability.
The Rev’d Dr Christopher
Newell is Associate Professor in Medical Ethics at the
University of Tasmania, and Associate Priest at St
David’s Cathedral, Hobart. He is a person with
disability.
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