Have you ever heard the song “No Man Is an Island”? The words remind us that no matter where we live, where we work, where we go to school we are never alone.

Recently I heard a story on the radio that made me sit up and take notice. The story went like this. A pastor was seated at a table at an exhibition. He had Christian music playing to attract the visitors. One man came over to talk. After they talked for a while the men became Facebook friends. They also exchanged email addresses.

Not long after the initial meeting the man who had come over to talk was diagnosed with kidney failure. They tried to find a match to get him a new kidney, but there were none available. When the pastor read this he went to be tested. As it turned out he was a perfect match.

The surgical process began with the pastor’s surgery first. When the surgeon opened him up he found an aneurysm that went undetected. As it turned out this life-saving gift of the pastor to the near stranger turned out to be a life saving measure for him. Who knew? Only God knew. Two lives were saved that day.

How often do we walk around with things going on in our bodies that are not detected by the standard tests? If this pastor had not been tested as a possible match he could have keeled over and died from the aneurysm.

People often ask me how I can volunteer for Hospice. My answer is “how can I not give my time to help people in their darkest hours?” Serving as a hospice volunteer does as much for me or even more for me than it does for the clients. I listen. I read. I fix meals. I feed people. I run the sweeper at the house. I see that the cupboards are stocked. I grocery shop.In short I do whatever is needed at the moment and feel good about it.

People at the house do not ask to be there. They come because they and their families need the help. They have exhausted all other possibilities. Some people have an extended stay while for others the stay is short. No matter the very caring staff and the volunteers are there to serve them.

Just like the pastor in my story the benefit to me is huge. Although my life is not saved by my service, I benefit in many ways. My faith is strengthened as I observe people in their final days and hours. It is truly a pleasure to share scripture with the people if that is what they wish. I have even hummed hymns as per request. As people prepare to meet their maker they are comforted by scripture and music. The Bible says, “As much as you do it to one of the least of these you do it for me.”

How can you be of service? You can make a phone call to someone who is shut-in. You can make a meal for someone who is ill. You can write someone a card or send a note. People who are sick are thrilled to be remembered. If nothing else you can offer a prayer on behalf of someone.

It takes so little time to do these things yet they are genuinely helpful to others. You can serve from your hospital bed. You can serve from your wheelchair. You can serve from your home. There are men and women serving this great country of ours who need your prayers. I remember that a family member was serving in Iraq. His name came to mind so I prayed for him. I later found out that he was in grave danger at the time I prayed. He lost one of his best buddies that day as well. Was he alone? I think not. The Lord was surely with him through my prayers. To God be the glory- great things he hath done.

The song I mentioned at beginning of this piece is adapted from a poem by John Donne written in 1624. That makes it nearly 400 years old. It was put to music and enhanced by Joan Whitney and Alex Kramer in 1950. I share the words with you as I conclude this piece.

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No man is an island.

No man stands alone.

Each man’s joy is joy to me.

Each man’s grief is my own.

We need one another.

So I will defend

Each man as my brother

Each man as my friend.

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The words to that song give the reason that I volunteer for Hospice. We need one another. God bless those who are served and those who serve.