Imagine that C. S. ("Jack") Lewis from the
movie "Shadowlands" called or chatted with New Hope about
his new wife dying of cancer. Consider the background information
and sample comments by Jack below and then offer some possible
New Hope Counselor responses, using the "A-B-C's of New Hope
Counseling" to guide you.
Background
Jack is a successful Christian author and
professor of theology and philosophy at Oxford College in
England. Later in life he met and befriended Joy, a divorced
woman from America with a 9-year old son who has read all
of his books. She challenges him with her honesty and her
zeal to experience all that life has to offer. To help her
live in England he marries her "technically" and they continue
to live separate and be friends. Later, she gets cancer and
is given a short time to live. He falls in love and marries
her before God and the world.
Re-cap of the movie scene
Joy from her hospital bed: "You seem different.
You look at me properly now."
Jack: "I don't want to lose you Joy."
Beginning of the New Hope call/chat: Active
Listening
Jack: "My wife is dying of cancer. We were
friends for a few years, but we just got married a month ago."
Your open question/probe to invite deeper
self-disclosure:
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
Your summary statement:
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
Your feeling reflection:
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Middle of New Hope call/chat: Brainstorming
an action step
Jack: "I don't want to lose her."
Your open question/probe to generate ideas:
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
Another open question/probe to help him solve
his problem: _________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
End of the New Hope call/chat: Close with
reinforcing plan and offering prayer
Jack: "I so much want to enjoy the time I
have with her."
Your summary statement to confirm his step:
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
Your prayer:
