Three years ago on Aug. 22, 2012, it was the worst day of my life. My father, Lee Robertson, passed away. I was hurt beyond belief. I had lost the man I loved and admired. I had no idea what I was going to do without a dad. I lived out of state. When I finally got to my dad it was the day before the funeral at the funeral home. What do you do, how are you going to react. I’m sure I was like most. Quiet, wondering why, crying, an emotional wreck. That is when I met Pastor Russ Hamilton of the First Christian Church of Gallatin. Our family grew up in the church. I had never met the present pastor. Mr. Hamilton was asked to officiate over the funeral. At that point in my life the pastor was not that important to me. Once I met Mr. Hamilton I realized why he was there and why he was important. His gentleness, his story about his own father’s passing, all put me at ease. Everything he did was perfect. I have not had the words till now to explain what kind of person he is and how he was the man for the job. The Christian church puts out a newsletter that has a section called the Pastor’s Perspective. When I read what Pastor Hamilton wrote in the June 2015 edition I knew I had found the words. I would like to share those words he wrote because I could never do them justice.

The last two years of CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education) I have at times struggled with the term “Ministry of Presence.” It means just what it says; by being present, you provide ministry to others. I first became aware of this term when learning to chart on the electronic medical record of each patient I visited. The software used for the medical record includes a screen for the chaplain to complete after each visit. The form includes a space for comments as well as different boxes that describe ministry practices such as bereavement support, prayer, scriptures, object of comfort, and then there was the box “Ministry of Presence.”

At first I almost avoided that box because it sounds like I didn’t do anything but show up; I have always felt that I had to “do” something like read scriptures, prayer, or give an object of comfort. That was just it, I believed that I had to do something and just being present was not enough. As I grew through CPE my perspective began to change and I realized the greatest gift we can give someone is our presence and attention. The words we say will pass away, gifts can be lost, prayers forgotten but we never forget how it feels when someone takes the time to be present with us. We are loved and important and worth someone making a sacrifice to just be with us in that moment.

This is especially true when visiting with someone who is facing or just experienced the death of a loved one, waiting on test results, exhausted from being in the hospital, torn between working to make a living and being with their loved ones, frustrated by the red tape of insurance, or dealing with strained family relationships. We cannot know or understand the thoughts, feeling, or experiences of another person but we can be present; not offering words of advice or well meaning saying. Just being present and waiting for them to speak…this is in my opinion the greatest gift we can give one another.

In reality much of my time is spent just being present with God’s people; whether at church, home, the hospital, funeral home, or at the scene of an accident.

To say the least he knew what to do. To me there was not a better person to have helped send my dad away with the perfect ceremony. Mr. Hamilton, you did do more than just be present. You touched my life at a time when I needed someone to help me when I thought I needed no help. He reassured me, gave me confidence, calmed me and most of all he was there. Standing off to the side talking only when talked to. Just knowing he was in the room gave the entire place comfort. When I was about to speak at the funeral I asked him: If I cannot make it through if he would finish it for me. He did not hesitate in saying, “God will get you through it,” and he did. I am not very good at expressing myself with words. The bottom line is that I lost my dad but I gained a life-long friend, I hope. The clergy may not be on our minds very often. When your life is upside down there is not a better person in the world to call upon than your pastor. Pastor Russ Hamilton has to be the best. Mr. Editor, if I may add one more note about that day. David and Deanna McWilliams. They also helped make that day a perfect one. Their attention to detail made the path through the process flawless. Most of all their kindness. After growing up with them I felt good knowing they were in charge of taking care of Dad. David has a way about him that proves he chose the right profession. Deanna’s kind heart complements the entire experience. I told her not to fuss, she had done enough. “You are Gallatin,” she said. Wow, small town people but when you have great small town people like them the community is the benefactor. Thank you David and Deanna for everything during and after that day. It could not have gone better. The perfect day. Mr. Russ Hamilton, like David and Deanna, you are a huge part of my life and I will never be able to thank you enough. Just know God picked the right man to spread his word.

Danny Robertson, Kaufman, Texas