Blake Kightlinger - CMC Missioner
Throughout life we are often called out of our comfort zones. Even though it can be tremendously challenging to leave our safe surroundings, there is also the potential for enormous growth. I believe God called me this year to Cabrini Mission Corps to have experiences that challenged my perception of other religions, cultures and even death. As I drove with two members of my new community, Judy and Jayne, across the GeorgeWashington Bridge into New York City last August, I looked at the skyline of Manhattan and thought “Boy, this year is going to be completely different than what I’m used to.”
Prior to coming to New York, I had little experience with other religions outside of the small communities of Catholics in the sea of fundamental Protestants in North Carolina. Working in the Hospice unit at Cabrini Medical Center, many of my coworkers, fellow volunteers, and patients were Jewish, Buddhist, and Muslim. I began to learn about their faith traditions and, more importantly, their core values. I realized how similar my values were to theirs as I picked up on a common theme of love and respect for other people and all life.
I was also exposed to many new cultures and ethnicities in the great melting pot of New York. My community was in the Washington Heights section of upper Manhattan. This part of the city is roughly eighty percent Hispanic. Walking down St. Nicholas Avenue, I experienced a situation rare in my life--I was a minority. These situations helped me grow socially by giving me new perspectives that ultimately revealed the unity of all of God’s people.
Finally, this year on mission affected my attitude toward death. Prior to my work with Hospice, I had little experience with death and it wasn’t much on my mind. On my first day on the Hospice unit, the dying process hit me pretty hard. My first patient was a Jewish man named Harry. Harry was in his 60’s and dying from lung cancer. I never saw anybody visit Harry and he seemed emotionally uncomfortable staying at the hospital. I spent time with Harry getting to know him and having light conversations. After several days, Harry passed away and I was pondering what effect I might have had on him. I came to the conclusion that I had helped make Harry’s last days more comfortable by providing a human presence so that he would not feel so lonely in this time of great fear. Making patients more comfortable during their last days is the goal of Hospice volunteers.
I am forever grateful to Cabrini Mission Corps and the Cabrini Sisters for this life- changing experience.
by Blake Kightlinger
In the fall, Blake will be going to medical school. He has been accepted at the medical schools of Georgetown University, East Carolina University and North Carolina University.
