I Am Here for You

Gary's first words of his introduction to this masterpiece are: "Spiritual care means being fully present to the suffering of others and meeting them where they are without a whiff of judgment." I Am Here for You is so much more than a collection of weekly meditations Chaplain Gary Blaine wrote for his hospital coworkers whom he served along with the patients. Although the setting is within a small rural hospital, you will find that the story is much bigger - about life, relationships, struggles and encouragement that apply to all human beings, regardless of occupation, race or stage of life. Gary is not afraid to speak bluntly about life's truths, including suffering and death; yet in doing so finds a way of giving the listener peace, hope and inspiration. "Pastoral presence is honoring the limits of medicine and nursing, confessing the failures of people and processes, and absolving all with words of hope and forgiveness, abiding presence, and encouragement. ... [It] is the dignity of bearing with these all too human beings and believing in them when all self-confidence has been eroded away."