". . .do not be anxious about how or what you are to speak; for what you are to say will be given you in that very hour and moment.  Fit it is not you who are speaking, but he Spirit of you Father speaking through you."  Matthew 10: 19b-20 (TAB)

Luxury, I sighed, pure luxury, as my left arm snaked its way across the bed. . .no alarms clock, no mewing cat, no pushy dog. . .I slept in and it feels wonderful. . .my arm stops and my hand gropes where is the dog???  The one who sleeps between us. . .the one who. . .my arm moves leftward again. . .where's the hubby???  What is wrong with this. . .oh, wait, I'm on vacation!  I'm on a cruise!!! The dog is safe at home but where. . .

The cabin door opens and my hubby walks in.  I open my eyes a slit, "Hi."  "Hi."  He explains that he got up earlier, got some coffee and walked around the deck enjoying the early morning sea air.  Now he's ready for a mid-morning nap (my snoring kept him from sleeping deeply) and I'm ready for coffee.  So we trade places, he goes to bed and I head for the upper deck, book in hand, in search of coffee, quiet and breakfast.

Most of the other passengers had already eaten and made their way to the pool, spa, gym or area of the ship that interested them the most so it was fairly easy to snag a quiet corner.  Anchoring my spot with my book I wend my way through the tables, get some coffee and food and head back a bubble of happiness floating to my face and coming out in a grin. . .vacation!  This really is luxury.

As I begin to read, I look up and see her.  A blond woman a little younger than myself, staring at my book.  She is sitting cat-a-corner to me at the next table. 

"Hi," she says, "What are you reading?  It must be good."

"Oh, it's a book by Henri Nouwen." I reply.  "I like him and enjoy reading his books."   

"What do you do?" she asks.

Oh boy, here we go.  I've cleared rooms telling people what I do.  I've also found people clinging to me because of what I do.  "I'm an ordained minister."  hoping it ends here but knowing it won't.

"What's the name of your church?"
n"I don't have a church."  I sigh inwardly, "I'm a hospice chaplain."

Her eyes begin to well with tears.  "Oh, that's wonderful.  I know a lot about hospice, you see, this was supposed to be a cruise for me and my mom but she died on hospice just a couple of months ago.  Now I'm here with my daughter.  It's been wonderful but so hard too."

And then it begins, I take off my vacation hat and put on my chaplain, minister hat.  I ask the questions and listen letting her cry and share her heart.  She glances up and hesitates, I look over my shoulder and there is hubby standing back, "hey," he says, "need me to come back later?" 

"No," she smiles a shaky smile, "I'm good.  Thanks, and have a great cruise."

"You too," I say.

"What was that all about?" hubby says, "as if I didn't know."

I explain what was happening, encourage him to have a second breakfast and go back to wearing my vacation hat.

Lord, thank You for calling me to be a minister -- for entrusting me with Your people, with Your children.  Help me to be instant in season and out, always prepared to speak as You would have me speak , always guided by the Spirit.  And Lord, whoever that woman was, You know her name, I never asked, be with her and heal her heart."  Amen