HIV: ON LIVING-SOURCES OF SUPPORT: RELIGION

People’s religions offer them two sources of support, one human, one spiritual. Priests, rabbis, ministers, nuns, pastors of all religions give the same sort of help as social workers and psychologists, but they talk particularly to people who want to talk about God. They offer advice, company, and comfort. A hospital chaplain who deals largely with people with HIV infection says, “I start by asking, ‘What do you want me to pray for?’ They tell me, and we talk about that. I think my presence as a representative of the church brings a sense of hope and warmth and comfort. I think I bring the rituals and the nurturing of the church.” A pastor in a large city church, when she celebrates the Eucharist at church, consecrates extra wafers and takes them along for celebration of the Eucharist at the hospital. “That’s become important,” she said. “The people in the hospital are getting the wafers that were consecrated when everybody has gathered together to celebrate the Eucharist. That connection becomes very important to sick people. They don’t say it in exact words, but I can see it in their faces. Sometimes they cry.” Lisa’s pastor used to pick up her husband at home and drive to Lisa’s workplace, where the three of them would have a coffee break and a brief prayer. Lisa also found that she needed more attention from her fellow church members, but she didn’t want to tell them why. So she told them instead that her husband’s increasing weakness was caused by a heart condition, and that sometimes the situation really got her down. Then, she said, “they stopped being so plastic-y and I could see the real feeling in them.” The spiritual comfort of religion can be separate from the human comfort. Dean’s faith brings him strength: “My greatest source of support is my church,” said Dean. “It’s spiritual support, having God who is greater and could intervene. I don’t believe God creates these things; I don’t believe any of that stuff about plagues. I do a lot of communicating with God. I say, ‘Okay, I’ll work it out with you.’ It has a healing effect. God gives us the strength to meet each day and live it to the fullest.” Helen’s faith brings her reassurance: “God loves me so much. Even when I fail in my own eyes, I don’t fail in God’s. God is a good parent. If someone is hungry, God sees to it that they’re fed.”*232\191\2*

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