chaplain – Page 9 – 300 words a day

A sense of connection.

A few months ago, I was part of a workshop on spiritual health. We suggested at the outset, As a working definition, let’s talk about our spirit as that part of us that desires connection to something greater than ourselves. We’re not sure exactly what it is, this pull, this awareness, this sense of connection. […]

by Jon Swanson

Peaceful expectations.

It’s the season when expectations reach their annual peak. Around Christmas, many people wrestle with family expectations. Gift-giving, party-attending, family-gathering expectations. It’s not that gifting or partying or familying are bad. In fact, each is good. But when we have to measure up to stated or unstated standards, our minds swirl and our hearts ache. […]

by Jon Swanson

Keep watch.

(This is the second in a series of posts from a message delivered November 27, 2016. The texts were Isaiah 2:1-5, Romans 13: 11-14, and Matthew 23: 37-44.) Nancy’s dad is in assisted living. They don’t allow dogs. Which means that his dog is in assisted living, too. She’s living with us. Jude, that’s the […]

by Jon Swanson

No worries.

“Pray for clarity of thought and peace.” That’s the email I sent to Nancy early Tuesday morning. I had been called to the kind of hospital event which most worries me and I felt out of practice and unprepared. And worried. I emailed Nancy. I checked my notes. I started out of the office a […]

by Jon Swanson

Ten men who need to be healed.

(This is the first in a short series of posts taken from a hospital chapel message on Luke 17:11-19.) May I be a little vulnerable? I don’t like Bible stories about healing. I’m a hospital chaplain, after all. And I see people who aren’t restored to physical health. And often, as the “official” spiritual person […]