Capturing the essence of hope and the tenacity of the human spirit isn't always easy, but when you witness the soaring flight of an eagle, something profound stirs within. That stirring is at the heart of our latest episode, where we're joined by hospice chaplain John Wenderline, who shares real-life stories from his book on end-of-life experiences. As we unravel the threads of spiritual care, the profound bonds between patient and chaplain, and the diverse tapestry of beliefs held by those in their final moments, we offer a poignant reflection on the impact of empathy, comfort, and the unwavering beacon of hope.
The journey through the last chapters of life is often a road paved with complex emotions and lessons of love. This episode carefully navigates the tumultuous feelings of caregivers, the bittersweet farewells of passing, and the Christian perspective on the afterlife's promise of immediacy with the Lord. We extend a hand to those grappling with guilt, seeking solace, or simply needing a reminder of the power of continuous prayer and the practice of love as an action, as exemplified by Jesus. Our contemplative discourse aims to uplift and bring solace, recognizing the strength we derive from faith and each other in the most challenging of times.
Thanks for Listening, and subscribe to hear a new episode each week!
Capturing the essence of hope and the tenacity of the human spirit isn't always easy, but when you witness the soaring flight of an eagle, something profound stirs within. That stirring is at the heart of our latest episode, where we're joined by hospice chaplain John Wenderline, who shares real-life stories from his book on end-of-life experiences. As we unravel the threads of spiritual care, the profound bonds between patient and chaplain, and the diverse tapestry of beliefs held by those in their final moments, we offer a poignant reflection on the impact of empathy, comfort, and the unwavering beacon of hope.
The journey through the last chapters of life is often a road paved with complex emotions and lessons of love. This episode carefully navigates the tumultuous feelings of caregivers, the bittersweet farewells of passing, and the Christian perspective on the afterlife's promise of immediacy with the Lord. We extend a hand to those grappling with guilt, seeking solace, or simply needing a reminder of the power of continuous prayer and the practice of love as an action, as exemplified by Jesus. Our contemplative discourse aims to uplift and bring solace, recognizing the strength we derive from faith and each other in the most challenging of times.
Thanks for Listening, and subscribe to hear a new episode each week!
It's time now to get the hell out of your life. A weekly broadcast with real people sharing real struggles and offering real hope. Today's show will encourage, inspire and empower you to face life's challenges with a bold confidence and renewed hope. Now let's join our host, ron Myers. The Provider.
Ron Meyers:Hello, my friends, it is so good to be with you today. Before I talk about today's show, I have to tell you something. I live in an area where there are a lot of trees and there is an eagle's nest somewhere in the vicinity of where I live, and this morning I saw this beautiful bald eagle flying above my home and I thought of that scripture verse, isaiah 40, 31. But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not be faint. What a promise from God. So if you're tired today, if you're weary today, I want to encourage you. You will be like that eagle I saw this morning and be soaring very soon, and I believe today's show is going to encourage and inspire you. You and I are getting older and one day we will be at the end of our life.
Ron Meyers:Well, today I have invited a chaplain, a hospice chaplain, to be a part of our conversation. So, listeners, I want to introduce my guest. He's on the phone with me, his name is John Wenderline and he has written a book For me. End of life has seen through the eyes of a hospice chaplain. John, so glad you are able to visit with my listeners today. I have to ask you, though, brother, why did you write a book like this?
John Wenderlein:Well, you know, Ron, I tell you it's hard for me to say that I never would write a book like this, because what happened is 20 years ago or so, I decided to step into this profession. You know, I just felt a need for a release and over the years I have just basically downloaded my brain, my stories, into my computer. And you know, about a year ago I had a close friend say John, you know, these stories that you have, you just need to let people know. Let people know that it's going to be okay and that there's a great love given at the end of life. So you know, it was definitely a labor of love.
Ron Meyers:Your patients do. All of them, 100% of them, believe in Jesus.
John Wenderlein:Well, you know, one of the most amazing things about being a chaplain is that, especially a hospice chaplain, is that you meet all kinds of people. You know all walks of life. You know you and I understand that, like in Ecclesiastes where it says that life is full of seasons and these people are coming to the end of their seasons. So I meet all kinds. I meet them where you can look at them and say you know what? Where the Bible says that if you stay with me long enough, I will take away the big things, where the little things don't matter. I've met those people. I've met people who have said I'm just not sure. And you know, I've met people who literally go out screaming, literally go out screaming.
Ron Meyers:What do you mean? Go out screaming?
John Wenderlein:Well, what happens, ron, when a man or one of our patients not a man alone, just one of our patients we're having issues with trying to get them to get their medications right? I'm sure you understand that, with your father making sure he's pain free, we call it palliative care. Well, you know, there's a resistance of the spirit to, you know, to be subdued and to, let's say, give in. I've had probably a couple dozen patients in the 20 years I've been doing this literally scream, I don't want you here. I've had them and we've taken to our special locations. We have specific locations where we treat them more specially, with our nurses and better medical care, and still my doctors will say you know, chaplain, they went out screaming. There was no amount of medication we could give them without them just screaming. So I see all facets, ron.
Ron Meyers:You know, does that mean they never accepted Jesus as their savior?
John Wenderlein:Well, you know, you never know that. You know the second chapter of Romans does what. It would be careful. We're not the judge, we're the hands of God. But you know, the book of James says that. You know, there's evidence, evidence of salvation, not your works, but there's evidence of a love for Christ. So you know, if you just took it on the merit of what you've seen and what you know and what life they've led, until the 70, 80, 90 years that they're getting ready to pass, you can say well, you know they might be that deep on the cross. You know, we just don't know. You know, for me it's always been fruitful on that. God uses all people for all things.
Ron Meyers:Yep.
John Wenderlein:You know, one of my things as a pastor, as a chaplain, as a father or husband is that as long as there's breath, there's hope.
Ron Meyers:Amen. Tell us one of your favorite stories that's in your book of one of your patients.
John Wenderlein:Well, I met a sweet lady who was, who wanted to be a hundred years old. I walked into her room it really nice, you know, assistant living facility, really nice, not scaling. When I walked in, she had the elections of 2016 on there, fox News, and of course, the first thing I said was Miss Agnes, are you political? And she said to me I surely am. So I said, well, sweet lady, I'm not, I'm just here to love you up and let's have conversation. So you know, she was born and raised a Catholic, but she didn't own a Bible. She was 99 years old, never had a Bible, and when I came to visit her a second time, you know we probably spent 20, 30 minutes with her. So I said, you know, I'm going to come see her again next week. And the week passed and I went to see her and I walked in and she had a real stern look on her face and I couldn't figure out why. And I said what's going on with you? And she said you know I've been thinking. And I said, sweet lady, I told you, don't be thinking, it's going to get you in trouble because she just, you know, she was one of those people who had an opinion on everything you know. She didn't know.
John Wenderlein:So she said you know, I lost my husband about 15 years ago. I said, yeah, I know. And she said I loved him to death. I said, I know, you told me the story. She said, you know, when I die and I get to heaven and he has found somebody else, I'm really going to be mad and I laughed. I said, sweet lady, that's not the way it works, you know.
John Wenderlein:And, ron, for that amount of time, and probably, she last lived about six months longer. Her heart just failed her. But in that time I became the Bible answer man gave her a pad and a pencil. I said, sweet lady, I'll tell you what you do. I'll come see you once a week. You write down the thoughts and questions you have and then we'll talk.
John Wenderlein:Well, you know, that went on for six months till she got the flu and her family called me to come to the hospital where she was and I remember all standing around and me holding her hand and telling her it's going to be all right, and I played with a family in the room and probably 30, 40 minutes after I left she passed away. So I tell people all the time, ron, what would think that I am doing such wonderful things. But you know, god puts me in those places to show me what's going on, to give me an understanding of who he is. I found it as much glory in visiting with that sweet lady as she found with me visiting with her. So that's just one, but I probably have over a thousand stories now.
Ron Meyers:What's one question or a few questions? You hear a lot from people near the end of their life.
John Wenderlein:It's probably something that you and I understand, probably better than most, because I know you're a man of the word but you know it's that moment of depth, you know it's that moment that the Bible says that in the twinkle of an eye you will be with me in paradise. You know, people worry and they worry and they worry and they worry and they become consumed by this thing of depth. But if you study depth in the scriptures, you realize it's just the time it takes to blink your eyes. Now are we, are we denigrating as our bodies waste away? As Paul said in the Bible, in scriptures, of course.
John Wenderlein:But so I find it's that moment, it's that moment of death, that moment that they're no longer going to breathe. That seems to scare people. Deathling is around all of us in some form or fashion. I used to say I sent it to this sweet lady who I just gave you the story I said you know, my prayer is that when I get close to passing, if I know I'm going to pass, then I go out in glory Because you know, ron, I've seen sweet ladies and sweet men say I'm ready, and you know what I sensed in them, that they were ready. So my prayer is that when I get to that point in life, then I just become a wonderful witness for it.
Ron Meyers:And you know, john, chances are somebody is listening to this that is near the end of their life and they don't go to church. They're not in hospice yet. They don't have a chaplain. They sit in their house alone, wondering every day. What in the world do I do? What would you tell that person?
John Wenderlein:We can take all the books of the Bible, all 66 books of the Bible, and we can narrow it down to one simple thing. Christ said when he was wandering this earth, and he said if you don't have Me in your heart, if you don't have love in your heart, you don't have me. That person it's home. That's my greatest fear is that there's gonna be somebody that's gonna be at the end of their life that I hadn't had the opportunity to meet and you know I'm gonna have to leave them in the hands of God if they, if they pass away beforehand because, you know, as part of my job, I'm on call, so I may. I may be at home at two o'clock in the morning and again I get a call from the hospital that somebody that I don't know, I've never met, maybe in a car accident.
John Wenderlein:Man to a hard attack or strut or whatever, and they're either dying or they died. So I walk into those situations with not great sorrow but great wonderment, and for that person who's at home, who is struggling, they just need to bow their heads. Jesus said that we have an individual walk with him doesn't require Sprinkling of water, doesn't require anything but just a faith and a commitment. And that's an individual commitment. So I, I try my best, trust me. I jokingly say Ron, when I get that call at two o'clock in the morning, I start running towards the hospital and I let the car catch up with me.
Ron Meyers:I Really do. This is really a passionate call on your life, isn't it?
John Wenderlein:It is. You know, I came out, I came to understand who God was in my early 30s I'm not 30 now, in my early 60s. But I went to seminary, did all those things and I couldn't figure out why the Lord hadn't got me one of these big churches. You know, that's the way we think, we, we should do things. And finally, a dawn on me that while I was in seminary, one of the presidents had us in the war with you.
John Wenderlein:Remember they were calling up our National Guard and so many of the men that were in seminary were being called up to go to war. And I remember, at the age of 40, trying to join the military, I've read an article that said for every Thousand, twelve hundred men, there was only, there was only one chapter. So I said, boy, I can't imagine a man or a woman dying in a here battle and not not just not have somebody there to say it's gonna be okay. And you know, and that just turned into this passion that again I have to say that this is as much as I like to think that you know, I'm doing something wonderful. The Lord is doing something wonderful for me. He's giving me my purpose. You know, I'm gonna do this until I'm not healthy enough to do it anymore.
Ron Meyers:Listeners, if you just tuned in, I'm talking with John Wenderline. He's got a book out called remember me. End of life is seen through the eyes of a hospice Chaplain. Since you deal with people at the end of their life, will you take a minute and speak life into somebody listening that is ready to just give up? And they said I'm ready to go, he can take me tomorrow. Speak life to that person.
John Wenderlein:I believe scripture tells us that in Paul's clear that we're not attached to something this moral. So if somebody is ready, if that person is ready to just say you know it's time, you know, I walk into room filled full of patients, family members, and sometimes they're near death and sometimes they're Not yet ready to die, and they'll ask me to pray. And I tell them every time before I pray, it's never failed over the last years I've tell them that I'm gonna pray for God's mercy, I'm gonna pray for God's swiftness and I'm gonna pray for God's love. And if the Lord chooses To lift that sweet person that you love so much out of that bed, and so be it. But today we're gonna just pray for his mercy and we're gonna pray that when he comes he comes swiftly. So I try my best.
Ron Meyers:Amen. You know, john, when my mother was on hospice, she died at the young age of 59 with cancer, and before she died she looked up in the corner of the room and said mom, mom, have you experienced that with the patients that you deal with?
John Wenderlein:That's a whole heavy subject to breach. But then we don't have enough time to do that. But I have to tell you I lost my father four years of Christmas, 18th day of December, near Christmas, and he was in his. He was in a hospital bed living room so people could come visit him and he could watch his TV and whatever. But as he got closer to the end of his life I remember I was talking to him he said he looked up and it was a little hallway between where he was laying and he said what's dad doing here? Now his father has been what has been dead for four decades. I said, oh, your dad's here. He goes. Yeah, I, just what? Why is he here? I said well, dad, he's, he's here to see you. I imagine you know, ron, it wasn't.
John Wenderlein:But maybe 15 or 20 minutes now my father was talking without confusion. Now you know he wasn't mumbling and stumbling and pausing. He was talking because he would go right back into, you know, his fishing or whatever else story he was talking about. But then, maybe 20 minutes later, he said a man I wish my mother would would come back out the kitchen so we could talk. Now his mama was sweet, sweet, sweet spirited woman who just loved the Lord, but she was been gone for two decades. So I said dad, mama see, your mama will see later and she does, I want to see grandma. So all that time that he said that I just, I didn't say anything different, I just a phone. Whatever he was saying. And you know, the biggest mistake we make with our patients is we Especially if they have dementia or Alzheimer's is that we want to argue with him about facts. If they say the world is flat, you tell them it's flat because you know what you want to get peace.
Ron Meyers:Someone younger listening right now that is dealing with the end of life for a loved one in their family and it's a lot of pressure on them. Any advice for a sibling taking care of a loved one?
John Wenderlein:There's no amount of education I you can go to to become a caregiver. I'll tell you, a caregiver is somebody who doesn't sleep Only if the loved one sleeps, who doesn't eat only if the loved one eats, who doesn't do anything but worry about the care of the loved one that they're taking care of. So Be a caregiver. Ironically, at the end of life end of that person's life that they're taking care of they become consumed with guilt. You know that what it could have shared of stuff that, uh lots.
John Wenderlein:Many christians will say you know, if I could have done that, I should have done that. But their second guest themselves. I just had a sweet lady. His mother died and she was just so angry and I said, and I talked to her and I said listen, it was your mother's time. You know, christians, you and I both know if you were to give him that automobile now and go wherever you were gonna go see that little grandbaby yours and you were you were killed in a car. That was not a car accident, you were in a car at your appointed time. So I try to make people understand. There's no greater gift than the give of yourself to the people that you love, because love is an action word. Love is not lip service. It is an action when it requires Action and jesus talked about that over and over again. In fact he has peter. Remember three times, if you love them, to make sure peter understood that love, that jesus was in peter's heart.
Ron Meyers:And I love the scripture verse to be absent from the bodies to be present with the lord everything, the scripture, everything.
John Wenderlein:All the years I've better school and all the Times I've preached messages and study those things. There's one thing I know for sure that in a moment of time, in a millisecond, the time it takes you to blink your eye when you open your eyes, you with our lord, that's the fact, and it says life is like a morning mist for the lake. It's worth there one minute and the next minute we're gone. You know, people live by patients typically, or 80, 90. I have one down, it's a hundred and six. But setting in that bed at 95 years old, they'll look at me with awesome serenity and say when has that 95 years gone? Gone like a car doing 200 miles an hour. We have to latch onto things that are important.
Ron Meyers:Yes, sam, make the most out of life now, because we don't know when that door will close. John, I love your book. Where do listeners get a copy of this book?
John Wenderlein:They can go to. Remember Me, JW, or they can go to our Amazon. Remembermejwcom is my website.
Ron Meyers:I would love for you to pray for the listeners.
John Wenderlein:But of course I have my patients' families. The caregivers say I'll chat with them while you pray, and I just kind of smile at them. I said, well, I've learned to continuously pray. I've learned to pray with my eyes wide open. I used Jesus Christ's example of prayer when he went to the garden and looked into the heavens. I said, lord, if it be, you will take this away from me. He didn't bow down on the ground, he didn't close his eyes, his eyes were wide open and he was intensely praying. So if we can learn to pray wide open, the eyes wide open, stephen, then I think he just comes closer. But let me pray.
John Wenderlein:Grace is heavenly Father. Lord, again, we know that you are the Almighty and you are our Savior. You are in control of all things and all times. Lord, I ask you, if there's anyone out there that hasn't found peace beyond understanding the scripture, tell us just, lord, ask me to just get close to Him, get closer to Him, when I believe you're always with us, as you promise, and you promise with the disciples. But, lord, I know, I believe in my heart as we get closer to them and you just draw nearer to us. There's so many wonderful songs out there, lord, that I'm reminded of. Lord, we love you and we adore you and we just can't wait to be with you. Lord, lord, you know, I only ask these things and your precious and glorious name, amen.
Ron Meyers:Friends, right after the break, let's talk about what John just shared with us.
Speaker 2:Does God speak to us today? If so, what does he sound like? Thundering roars, crashing waves, a booming megaphone? Maybe, sometimes, but maybe it's not quite as Hollywood, dramatic as all that. Maybe it's a little more simple. John 10, 27 says my sheep hear my voice, I know them and they follow me. In the midst of all the noise and questions, god is speaking and we can hear His voice. We just need to learn to recognize it. So what does he sound like? He sounds like love, like reconciliation, like kindness, wisdom, hope, truth. Do you know those sounds Then? Maybe you hear His voice more often than you think. Maybe you're being led by Him more than you realize. Maybe God is speaking to you and you actually are listening. You just didn't know it.
Speaker 6:It happens in a blink, it happens in a flash, it happens in the time it took to look back. I try to hold on tight, but there's no stopping time. What is it I've done with?
Ron Meyers:Well, what a story, John. What a man of God. He just loves what he does. He does what he loves, and I really would encourage you to check out His website and the book RememberMeJWcom.
Ron Meyers:I just want to take a minute and remind us his believers what happens, according to the scriptures, when we do leave this world. I know when I lost my mother and I lost my father, it was tough, and then this year, the beginning of 2024, it has really caught me off guard. I have lost a couple very good friends, and the only comfort I have in going through this is the same comfort that you can have when we understand, as a believer, when we die, we can have the assurance that we will immediately enter into the presence of God, and scripture assures us that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. This means that we are going to experience the fullness of eternal life and the joy of being in the presence of Jesus. I can't even imagine that that will be so incredible. So death is not the end for believers, but rather a transition into the eternal life we already enjoy with Jesus Christ. Just asleep is a temporary state of rest before awakening. Death is a temporary state before our resurrection and entrance into the fullness of eternal life. So, friends, when you and I die, we will be reunited with Jesus in his presence, free from the limitations and struggles of our earthly bodies.
Ron Meyers:It's also important to remember that our understanding of time is limited, but God is outside of time.
Ron Meyers:So, while we may perceive a waiting period between death and eternal life, for God everything is right now. So, when we die, heaven is ready for us and our Savior will be waiting to welcome us into His presence. And additionally, scripture teaches that believers will be resurrected and receive new bodies at the second coming of Christ. This resurrection will mark the completion of our redemption and the fulfillment of God's promises. You will receive a glorified body that is imperishable and suited for eternity. So, my friends, in conclusion, as a believer, you can have the assurance that when you die, you will immediately enter into the presence of God. Death is not the end, but a transition into the fullness of eternal life with Jesus and friend. This is the most important thing that you and I must remember when we lose a loved one, that we can find comfort and hope in knowing that we will be reunited with our Savior, with our loved ones, and experience the joy of eternal life. What a wonderful promise that we Christians have.
Speaker 5:Has hope become a stranger in your life? Do you feel trapped? Are you caught in a whirlpool of life and responsibilities that you can't escape? Maybe hope has gone because someone robbed you of your childhood or your youth, or maybe it's a dream that you know will never come true. We can wish differently, but life will never be painless. But you're saying where can I find a place where there is peace? Peace is found only in Jesus Christ, crucified and resurrected. Jesus is triumphant over every pain, every failure, every heartbreak and every hope for this life. Jesus tells us if anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. If you would like to speak with someone right now about beginning a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, call 888-Need-Him or go to wwwchataboutjesuscom.
Speaker 7:Ron will be back in a moment to wrap up today's conversation. We want to encourage you today with God's promise to you. It comes from the book of Jeremiah, chapter 29, verse 11. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and the future. That's God's promise to you when you choose to commit your plans and future to him. Now back to Ron.
Ron Meyers:Well, friends, my time is up and I want to remind you what I opened the show with Isaiah 40, 31. Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not be faint. Friends, what an incredible promise from God that, no matter how beat up we feel, no matter how tired and weary we are, god has us in the palm of his hands and he wants you to know that you will rise again. You will soar like an eagle. Sometimes, friends, we have to go through the little valley before he can take us to the mountaintop of our destiny. I want to give you a date Sunday night, april 7, 1st Baptist Church in Gulfport, the Love and Light Tour starring Jordan Feliz and Colton Dixon. More details coming out on that very soon. Friends, in the meantime, remember this that I love you, jesus loves you, and when you do life with Jesus, you will remove the hell out of your life.
Speaker 1:Get the hell out of your life is underwritten by the Christmas City Gift Show. We invite you to come shop with over 255 vendors from all over the United States From November 8th through the 10th inside the Coast Convention Center located on the beach in Biloxi, mississippi. You can find more information at ChristmasCityGiftShowcom. Thanks for listening, and if you would like to share your story of what God has done in your life or listened to previous episodes, please visit our website, thepromoterorg. Join us next week for another episode of Get the Hell Out of your Life Real stories, real struggles and real hope.
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