The Many Faces of Hunger
The pandemic tsunami continues to roll. Here at Beacon, and in all of New York City, the pace of Test > Treat > Track > Teach > seems stuck in overdrive. At the same time, there are early signs of leveling off and even key numbers falling a tad –– hospitalizations, ICU admits and intubations. That’s encouraging news, but not quite “the end is in sight.”
My wife Janet, our Beacon team and I remain flat out almost 24/7. Our total approach to healing means that we are never “off-line” to the needs of our patients, their families and the Staten Island community we serve.
I believe, as I said in my last update, that those specific needs come all wrapped up in deeper emotional and spiritual needs. I see them as an aching transcendental Hunger for something more. As a Christian Community Health Center, we are tasked by God to feed Hunger with biblical values and the food of Faith
#1 A few days ago, we had two different patients leave the office in anger. They both had come in demanding things we couldn't give them. Maybe they'll come back, maybe they won't. One of the patients was a member of a family we’ve taken care of for almost 15 years. The other from a family we had recently treated for coronavirus. The patient got visibly upset with our advice to isolate and continued to demand inappropriate solutions. That patient’s car was full of family members, all not wearing masks. They sped off angry and Hungry. Probably, out of fear, this family had committed themselves to a Hunger strike. Importantly though, Beacon’s doors and our hearts remain open and inviting to them.
#2 In a counterpoint to that experience, I recently treated a Muslim patient who had been just been laid off from his job. When I saw him he presented with full-blown DESPERATION. He had just started working at the Amazon plant near our office and within a week, he went to a hospital Emergency Department because he felt sick. Then, he followed up with us –– untested and untreated because he was told he “wasn't sick enough”. By the time he got to Beacon, he was exhibiting what passes for “classic” coronavirus symptoms, with some respiratory difficulty. Since he had an appointment at the testing center the day after, I ordered antibiotics according to our internal protocol. Afterwards he said that he felt bad, because his wife had just gotten sick and he was convinced it was “all his fault.” I offered to pray with him. So my patient, along with our Muslim nurse (who has seen a lot of this by now) and I prayed. I prayed for my God to heal him and to give him a level of peace surpassing all understanding, I asked Jesus Christ to guard his heart and mind. Then, he burst into tears, knowing that he was safe in the arms of FAITH In GOD. He was feeding his Hunger.
God bless you and keep praying.
