Chaplain provided spiritual care. Recently, I charted a visit with a patient with the simple phrase, “Chaplain provided spiritual care.” It took 20 seconds to type. It summarized a 25-minute conversation. The highlight of our conversation for me was when I asked the patient what she would like me to ask God and she said, […]

I’ve been at a conference most of the week. It’s the biennial meeting for the denomination I’m part of. Many people I talk to in the hospital and elsewhere say that they are not much interested in organized religion, the kind that is represented by this conference. In defense, the joke we tell is that […]

(First published April 14, 2013) I suppose it may have been a sign from God. I’m pretty sure it was the sign at the Red Cross building across from the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum. The sign said, “HELP PEOPLE.” It may have been the kind of vague encouragement that we receive all the time. […]

We try to keep two feeders full most of the year. We are aware that the birds have other places to eat. Other feeders, flowers gone to seed, fields with seed in the harvesting process. We are also aware that we may be creating bad bird habits, teaching them to depend on us rather than […]