Easter Monday Another Look: Sad of heart (Luke 24) “They stopped, their faces drawn with misery…” (Luke 24:18). When we meet our friends on the road to Emmaus, we can see that they are sad of heart. Their faces are downcast, their voices hushed, their shoulders slumped. The two are absorbed in a serious conversationContinue reading “Another Look – Sad of heart”
Category Archives: Comforting the Brokenhearted
“A bit of goodness tucked out of sight”
One year I watched an orb weaver spider at uncommonly close range. She had set up housekeeping by stringing her web from our basketball backboard to the corner of the house. Just above the eave on that corner is a floodlight that’s triggered by motion. Every night that September I carried my late mother’s lameContinue reading ““A bit of goodness tucked out of sight””
Johnny the Outlaw
Johnny the Outlaw When most people think of hospice, they imagine elderly people living out their last days. But we’ve had a run of young people dying of alcohol and drug abuse recently. It’s a real wake-up call when you sit at the bedside of a man or woman the same age as one ofContinue reading “Johnny the Outlaw”
CM: Johnny the Outlaw
Johnny the Outlaw When most people think of hospice, they imagine elderly people living out their last days. But we’ve had a run of young people dying of alcohol and drug abuse recently. It’s a real wake-up call when you sit at the bedside of a man or woman the same age as one ofContinue reading “CM: Johnny the Outlaw”
Another Look: Give Us This Day…
I know what it means to live week to week, paycheck to paycheck. I don’t know what it means to live day to day, without guarantee of a paycheck. I don’t know what it means to be completely dependent on grace and mercy. I may indeed be completely dependent, but I seldom realize it. IContinue reading “Another Look: Give Us This Day…”
CM – Another Look: Give Us This Day…
I know what it means to live week to week, paycheck to paycheck. I don’t know what it means to live day to day, without guarantee of a paycheck. I don’t know what it means to be completely dependent on grace and mercy. I may indeed be completely dependent, but I seldom realize it. IContinue reading “CM – Another Look: Give Us This Day…”
Another Look: Richard
Note from CM: I went to a funeral this week of a 96 year-old veteran of both WWII and Korea. As I sat there in the service, I was reminded of this post from a few years ago about one of his comrades. • • • Richard This is Middle America. This is the generationContinue reading “Another Look: Richard”
Christmas and the Empty Chair
Dear imonk friends. On Tuesday night’s Christmas Eve Service I shared some thoughts on what Christmas means to me after a year of great loss and pain. I am posting them here in hopes it may help someone. 2019 has been the worst year of my life. I won’t go into details, but justContinue reading “Christmas and the Empty Chair”
Not so far
On Sunday our church commemorated All Saints Sunday. For many reasons, but particularly since I have engaged in work as a hospice chaplain, it has become one of my favorite Sundays of the year. It is not an easy Sunday. The day is filled with tears and the ache of separation from loved ones. ForContinue reading “Not so far”
Another Funeral Rant
Another Funeral Rant I’ll never get it as long as I live. Maybe it’s as simple as a difference in personalities, but I still can’t quite fathom it. Why is it so hard for some pastors to express sympathy and break out of their ministerial routines when they officiate funeral services? I attended a serviceContinue reading “Another Funeral Rant”
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