A 911DERWOMEN CHAPLAIN?
Written by Edie De Vilbiss, published March 23, 2021
When I was in the headset in the 80’s and 90’s, the agencies where I worked had local preachers who would come out on death notifications with the officers. They were called chaplains, but I didn’t know much about what they did.
After I started getting help to deal with my overall unhappiness, it became apparent that part of my problem was spiritual. I had gone from a strong faith to a seething anger against a deity who allowed children to suffer the way they do. In line with my typical pattern of blaming others for my misery, I thought domestic violence and child abuse were all “God’s” fault. For me, “God” looked an awful lot like my step father and my husband who both harmed me greatly with their words. So, “he” of course bore the responsibility for physical violence too!
As I chose to do the work to become healed from my Compassion Fatigue, I began to realize that part of my problem was my anger at “God”, “love”, “all of life”, “the holy other”, or “that which is beyond”. (Names matter very little, it’s the concept of something with a power greater than ours that matters). I worked steadfastly to sort that out.
Because God has a sense of humor, She called me to become a pastor.
In my efforts to answer the call without answering the call, I went to school and became an Addictions Counselor, another adventure! Then, I went to seminary in 2008.
She, The Holy One, sent me to serve as a Chaplain/Director of Spiritual Care in a children’s home for years before I retired last year. I worked with adolescents who had mental health issues. In the staff members, I began to see a certain haunted look in the eyes. I realized that Compassion Fatigue and PTSD were both present among my co-workers.
I went to school again. This time for my Doctorate in Ministry. My work there is titled “Addressing Compassion Fatigue Through Spiritual Practice.” When I was thinking about retiring and what I want to do with my life, I realized that I want to serve you. The person in the headset.
I want to be for you the person I needed to notice me and gently help me find my own answers.
911der Women has consented to let me volunteer with your community. I will offer you video meditations once a week. And, I’ll be a resource for you. You can contact me and we can set a time to talk. I will listen carefully and let you lead with what you want.
If you have further ideas about what you need, let me know.
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www.linkedin.com/in/edieshapeshabits
Thank you, Edie for sharing your talents with us. If you are interested in writing a blog, please email 911derWomen@gmail.com. Sign up for our newsletter on our homepage to stay up to date with 911der Women programming, exclusive content and blog updates. Click here and scroll to the bottom!