What Does Your Faith Bring You?

Part of my hospice volunteer training was learning how to respond when a patient asks about your faith, religion or spirituality. Hospice is based on the rule that everything that can be done, is done for the patient's comfort. One of the roles of a volunteer is to be a compassionate empathetic listener. In other words it's all about them not you.

We learn, if we don't already know, to listen actively and non-judgementally. Our role is not to provide religious advice, or judgement, based on our belief system.

When asked about our faith, religion or spirituality we are to respond, "It brings me peace and joy. Tell me about what brings you peace and joy."


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Galatians 5:22-26 (NRSV)

By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, competing against one another, envying one another.

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Jesus said, "Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me."
- John 15:4 (NIV)