“I just don’t know what to think,” she said. The diagnosis hadn’t even been a diagnosis. It was a report that a scan had seen an object where there shouldn’t be an object. She wasn’t originally here for the scan, but someone noticed something amiss. Someone ordered a scan. And now she knew about an […]

Terry Linhart is a friend and mentor and teaching and consulting colleague. With a couple other friends, we’ve helped a school get more focused on spiritual formation. We’ve developed a couple of college courses. I’ve learned a lot from Terry. The other day his new book, The Self-Aware Leader was released. The subtitle tells the story: […]

I met a family in the Emergency Department. The patriarch of the family was in the bed. The matriarch, children, and grandchildren stood near. I turned to the patient’s wife and said, “How many years have you been together?” I don’t always ask. It can be a dangerous question. But in this room, with the […]

“This is Chaplain Jon responding to a page.” “The patient is dying. The doctor would like you here.” I found the patient’s wife in a consult room. She was tearful. I heard about their relationship. I heard about Bill’s love and compassion. I heard about what a chaplain hears about when the news is scary. […]