LIZ - SOCIAL WORKER

1. How would you describe your work?
I am a Social Worker. I have both a Bachelors and a Masters degree. The Masters allows me a higher level of licensure in my state.

One thing I love about Social Work, and a reason I chose the field is the diverse places you can practice. Everything from a private counseling practice, to nursing homes, schools, hospitals, and areas like child welfare, adoption and the criminal justice system employ Social Workers. There are full and part time options as well.

I spent most of my professional career working in a hospital with adult oncology (cancer) patients. My role was to support them and their families. I did things like order wheelchairs, help patients access resources like medical insurance, make sure patients were able to obtain their prescriptions, and had food and shelter and utilities. I also ran support groups for patients and provided counseling and hospice referrals.

2. What are some ways that your work is a reflection of God?
Most of my favorite parts of Social Work reflect God. I loved meeting unique individuals, learning their stories, and walking a difficult part of their life’s journey with them. Often when people learned about my job they would say, “That must be depressing!” but I found the opposite to be true. It was a privilege to be a help to people. There were times when people were wrestling with spiritual questions, and I was able to share my faith with them, as long as they initiated the conversation. I believe that helping and supporting them, even without specific discussions, was an opportunity to reflect the Lord and His love and care.

3. How does your work provide insight into the brokenness of this world?
Getting a closer look at a devastating disease like cancer, and its impact on so many lives, was a reminder of the brokenness of this world. Many of the patients I followed did die from cancer, and it was a big reminder that we are not home yet, and in this broken world we must wrestle with the reality of death.

I also worked with many individuals who had lived in poverty. I worked with people who were homeless, those with significant mental and physical limits, and also those struggling with addictions. Not every family responds to a challenge such as cancer with love and grace. It was painful at times to see the brokenness of relationships, even when a family member is dying. These are glimpses of the brokenness of this world.

4. Jesus commands us to “love our neighbors as ourselves”. How does your work function as an opportunity to love and serve others?
As a medical Social Worker, there were times when I knew something about a patient or family that other staff did not. This allowed me to serve as an advocate for the patient with doctors and nurses or other staff. Sometimes it was simply a reminder to them that we were treating a person – not just a disease – and that is what I would want someone to do for me.
Alleviating some pain for another person, whether reducing stress or providing access to resources, or simply listening and being present was another way to serve others.