Published in Today’s Herald-News Nov. 1, 2019A Chaplain’s journey is often times serious—and sometimes humorous. Years back, while at a party held in Scottsdale for mental health counselors, an artist was there doing caricatures. He asked me a few questions, then within a few minutes, voile! I was shown on a tricycle with trainer wheels. A halo and “The Good Book” were included, along with postings of “Born to Be Good” and “Heaven’s Angel.”

I like the caricature because this artist, a stranger to me, put in words what seems so true. I was “born to be good.” Weren’t we all? But, please note that’s a trike I’m on—with trainer wheels.

Brandon Bowers, Publisher of Today’s News-Herald, asked me to introduce this column by telling why I serve the community in the ways I feel to do. A difference for me aligns with the fact I was introduced to what the artist drew as “the good book” when I was just eight years old. It was then that I found “a greater love.” Although I have only been a chaplain for 23 years, a friend who has known me for a very long time said recently, “Joy you have had a chaplain’s heart throughout your whole life.” So, where does one’s heart of compassion come?

While at work recently, I heard myself speaking of love. After all, when we are sick, in a strange bed—and out of control, a bit of love can help a whole lot. In a few minutes at that bedside I was able to succinctly put into words my “love philosophy.” We come into this world with a great capacity to love. Love is the most healing entity in the universe. And, the more we love, the more we become like our Creator who is love (1 John 4:8). Forgive me, please, for shortening the verse! There is a point to make: The first part of that quotation includes a preposition—“because.” Put it all together and you have, “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” It’s something to ponder. (Forget the double negative—this is from “the good book,” after all!)

I recently asked an ICU patient to tell me what love has meant to him within life. He thought for a minute then remembered a stitchery his wife had made for him years ago that reads, “To love and be loved is the greatest joy on earth.” Upon researching this quote, for an author to credit, I found this writing came from an ancient fable, yet was notably employed in a speech by Abraham Lincoln before he became the sixteenth President of the United States.

As for what I shared above, I also want to say that the opposite of love is fear. For a human the fears of not being lovable . . . not being good enough . . . or, not doing enough” are some of the worse of all fears. Fear carries a load of torment. So, what makes us “born to be good” is the fact we are created with a conscience . . . which so often prods us to “do the right thing.” And, why is conscience needed? I believe that is simply because we are here on terra firma to learn. We make mistakes—and it just happens those mistakes usually become our best teachers, helping us to “wise up.” I have certainly made my share of mistakes . . . have had to turn around and go the opposite direction, at points, which is the definition of “repentance.”

I have read “the good book” from beginning to end many times and see a clear and perpetual message, “’’Man’ sins, God redeems . . . ‘Man’ sins, God redeems.” Eventually (hopefully) we get the point—that we “are “enough.” We are loved—and that love of God, self and others is what it’s all about. Off come the trainer wheels—making the trip more worthwhile. The Maker intends for us to love the ride.