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The Face of God


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My life-long friend, Lloyd, has visited Hell this summer. He has gone through a season of physical pain, emotional distress, and drug-induced cognitive confusion. It is not over yet.

His ordeal was caused by a serious infection that required emergency surgery. The condition created multiple systemic and, potentially life-threatening complications. Lloyd spent six weeks in intense physical and emotional pain as he moved from intensive care to an extended hospital stay and then to skilled nursing care.

Recently, Lloyd was able to see visitors. I was fortunate to be one. I felt some of his pain as he talked about the physical and psychological trauma he had experienced. I listened as he talked about his deep appreciation of his wife, Kathy, who provided immense attention and advocacy for Lloyd as the two of them navigated their way through an imperfect healthcare system.


Lloyd also told me that his visit to Hell had a surprise. He said, “I saw the face of God.” I listened as Lloyd told me that the face of God was revealed to him in the faces of some of the caregivers he encountered who really cared. These were caregivers who over-performed their job descriptions.  Lloyd told me that these were people who, despite personal problems of their own, gave him all the support that they possibly could when he was the most vulnerable. These were human beings who made an authentic connection with Lloyd – a connection that transcended the roles of patient and caregiver. These were people who shared the face of God with Lloyd and I am glad he was able to see It.


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