I serve at Parkview Regional Medical Center as a chaplain. In that role, all the percentages become people. For example, when a treatment has a 99% success rate, we are the ones who talk with the family members of the 1%, who went from being a risk to being a person. And now a person … Continue reading The people behind the percentages.
Remember your dress pants.
Last month, I released a book about how to lead funerals. The book was barely out and my friend Dan said, “Did you remind people to make sure they have pants?” I told him that I had neglected that reminder. And then I asked him why he believed that was a necessary requirement. He told … Continue reading Remember your dress pants.
Four ways to offer clarity to families in a funeral.
I’ve done words for a long time. I’ve talked, I’ve earned three degrees about words. I’ve been around funerals and memorial services for a long time, too. I want to give you a secret that I am constantly telling myself because I keep forgetting it. Here’s the secret: people forget what you say. You can offer … Continue reading Four ways to offer clarity to families in a funeral.
Coming soon: How to lead funerals, memorial services, and celebrations of life.
Nobody looks forward to leading funerals. But when a friend or family member asks for your help, it’s hard to say “no”. You can do it. Your words and actions will help family and friends give meaning to this life. And this book will help you find those words, even if you’ve never done this … Continue reading Coming soon: How to lead funerals, memorial services, and celebrations of life.
Sometimes the morning isn’t good.
“It IS a good morning.” That’s what the minister said. A woman died an hour earlier. Her death was both sudden and unexpected. The family was gathered in a hospital consult room, waiting for the next steps, waiting for the minister. He walked into the room, aware of the death. “Good morning,” said a family … Continue reading Sometimes the morning isn’t good.
When there’s no hope of recovery, how do you recover hope?
When there’s no hope of recovery, how do you recover hope? You and I both know that question, I'm guessing. I wrestle with it regularly as a hospital chaplain. When I’m called to a room after Eddie hears his diagnosis. When the ambulance brings in 5-year-old Bree. When you hear that the treatment isn't working … Continue reading When there’s no hope of recovery, how do you recover hope?
A conversation on hope
Dr Dave Johnson and I spent some time talking about the importance and nature of hope. We both work in healthcare, Dave as a nurse educator and an therapist, me as a chaplain. We both understand from others and from our own experiences how challenging it is to find hope in the middle of times … Continue reading A conversation on hope
A conversation about pain and grief
I sat with an old friend, Dave Johnson, for a series of conversations. This one is about pain and grief. https://youtu.be/GgR1p9NeXEs
What I learned by being in the hospital
A couple weeks ago, I experienced the hospital from the other side of the bed. I wasn't the chaplain. I wasn't the patient. I was the patient's spouse. So while Nancy was in the hospital, I was at the hospital. For 48 hours, Nancy was in the hospital, moving from triage to an ER bed … Continue reading What I learned by being in the hospital
Pain, grief, and forgiveness.
I talk in patient rooms and hallways all the time about pain and grief and forgiveness. For obvious reasons, there are never cameras. However, our team at Parkview invited Dave Johnson and me to have that conversation and record it. Dave is a nurse educator and therapist I first met twenty years ago. In this … Continue reading Pain, grief, and forgiveness.
