VOICE OF COMFORT Chaplain Michael Gilbert Offers a Listening Ear and a Caring Heart Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photography Provided
Ten years ago, Michael Gilbert owned his own engineering firm. He traveled all over the state selling parts and gears to automotive and aircraft manufacturers such as Allison Transmission, Rolls-Royce and Cummins. One day Gilbert was chatting with a man from his church, who asked if he would be willing to visit some individuals who were not able to make it to church. Gilbert agreed, and his weekly schedule began to shift. After picking up a list of names and addresses, he would visit a manufacturing plant, then head over to a nursing home, followed by another manufacturing plant and then a hospital, and so on. “I felt like I had two milk routes,” Gilbert says. “After six months, I came to the realization that visiting these people brought me such joy. The payback far exceeded what I got from the sales and engineering job.” He started thinking about how he could find gainful employment in this field, and decided to enter a seminary program. He earned a certificate in ministry studies before being accepted into a master of divinity program. He eventually earned a master’s degree in psychotherapy and faith, and graduated from seminary in 2012. When the job of chaplain at IU Health West Hospital opened in 2016, he was happy, as he always had his heart set on working at IU Health.
Every day Gilbert visits specific patients or staff members who have directly requested his presence. These individuals usually do so when they are feeling lonely, scared, confused or conflicted. Perhaps they have received a troubling diagnosis and are overwhelmed by feelings of hopelessness, anxiety, grief, or anger, and need a calming presence to help them navigate those feelings. Gilbert is happy to do so. “When you’re ill in the hospital, it often leads you to reflect on your spirituality,” he says. “Patients will ask, ‘Why me?’ or ‘Where is God in all of this?’ This is my opportunity to come alongside a patient and help them flesh out their values, beliefs and understanding of life’s events.” He doesn’t do all the talking, however. In fact, a big part of his job is providing an empathetic ear. “People are their best book,” Gilbert says. “You can let them turn the pages and tell you about themselves.” Perhaps they just want communion, a blessing or someone to read them scripture. His goal is to try and see every patient at least once or twice while they are hospitalized. Gilbert spends 50% of his time with the staff and support team, which includes doctors, nurses, technicians, kitchen staff and those in environmental care services. He’s adamant about ministering to the hospital’s support teams, because he wants them to feel
OCTOBER 2020
