| quote of note |
| “The nature of a paradigm is such that it cannot change unless it is replaced" - Sarah Sumner |
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| online biblical study resources |
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| worthy endeavors |
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| Monday, April 30, 2007 |
| What I have learned as a Hospice Chaplain - # 1 |
I have now been a hospice chaplain for a year. I thought it would be nice to commemorate this anniversary to mention some of things I have learned over the last year. When I say "learned", I fully understand that learning is continual and I haven't arrived at "final knowledge". With that said, I will spend a few posts (not sure how many) reflecting on some lessons gained.
Death is alien to Humanity.
It doesn't matter what the situation, when a person dies there is a level of awkwardness that can be directly linked to the presence of death. Death is foriegn to the human make up because God didn't make humans to die. Death came from the fall of man in the garden and has covered everything like a dense fog. Death is inevitable for all of us, yet in the presence of a dying individual, deep down it feels like something isn't right or unnatural.
Even for Christians, who have the hope of resurrection, death, although grace filled, still seems to be strange and an interruption of the divine cycle. I have seen those of faith die with courage and hope, yet there is still a feeling that something isn't as it should be.
I just left a family whose loved one died. The deceased PT was lying in his bed, in a nursing home facility, surrounded by a large loving family. Grief laid heavy in that room. The family comforted each other with stories of Grandpa's life, and reminders of the goodness of God. Their grandfather had been sick for a long time, providing many years for the family to prepare for this, yet it still felt out of place.
I have learned to live beside and with mourning people, feeling more comfortable with the uncomfort of grief. Yet, I don't believe I will ever feel comfortable with death. That sounds funny I am sure, coming from a hospice chaplain, but I think it is not possible to feel comfortable with death, for it is an intruder, a curse, something that doesn't belong.Labels: Christianity, death, grief, hospice chaplaincy, mourning |
posted by Unknown @ 3:04 PM   |
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| Tuesday, April 24, 2007 |
| Hauerwas on Marriage |
I read this in an interview from Stanley Hauerwas in response to a question about marriage.
When couples come to ministers to talk about their marriage ceremonies, ministers think it's interesting to ask if they love one another. What a stupid question! How would they know? A Christian marriage isn't about whether you're in love. Christian marriage is giving you the practice of fidelity over a lifetime in which you can look back upon the marriage and call it love. It is a hard discipline over many years.Labels: christian love, divorce, love, Marriage, pre-marital counseling |
| posted by Unknown @ 5:41 PM |
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| Friday, April 20, 2007 |
| Nouwen on Freedom |
Read this from Nouwen and thought it was good. If anyone wants to respond, I would be interested in hearing what you think.
Freedom Attracts
"When you are interiorly free you call others to freedom, whether you know it or not. Freedom attracts wherever it appears. A free man or a free woman creates a space where others feel safe and want to dwell. Our world is so full of conditions, demands, requirements, and obligations that we often wonder what is expected of us. But when we meet a truly free person, there are no expectations, only an invitation to reach into ourselves and discover there our own freedom.Where true inner freedom is, there is God. And where God is, there we want to be."Labels: expectations, Freedom, Nouwen |
| posted by Unknown @ 8:40 AM |
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| Wednesday, April 18, 2007 |
| Prayer for VT |
Father, who holds all life in your hands, scoop up the community of Virginia Tech University and Blacksburg Va, as they suffer and mourn through this time of tragedy. Cover the families and friends of those who died, reminding them that you cry with them. Strengthen the church in this community to be your hands of comfort, showing your loving presence. Console and visit the family of this young man who took these lives, giving to them your grace and presence as they mourn as well. And remind us all that you are redeeming all things so that one day there will be no more senseless death, and that until that time, you are keeping us. Amen. |
| posted by Unknown @ 5:08 PM |
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