As chaplains, we cannot be merely informed about trauma; we must be trauma-responsive.
All tagged chaplaincy
When There Are No Words
Instead of minimizing or dismissing the emotions one carries in a moment of trauma, lament offers a space to directly name the hurt of the painful moment.
Trauma Leaves Its Scars
To say that trauma and traumatic experiences are hard is an understatement, because they are indescribable. Even the journey of recovery is complicated.
Not Giving Up: Reframing the Ethics of Allowing a Natural Death
What I have found, though, is that families in crisis rarely need an ethics lecture. They need permission: permission to grieve, permission to be afraid, and permission to believe that letting go of aggressive treatment is not the same as letting go of the person they love.
Navigating Hopes and Fears in the ICU
I am a navigator in the various intersections of hopes and fears emerging into ethical dilemmas unfolding in the ICU. Within the hospital setting, chaplains offer emotional support and spiritual care services as members of the patient care team while simultaneously addressing ethical considerations by upholding confidentiality and impartiality.
What is a Good Death?
We are skilled professionals, capable of having difficult conversations in moments of crisis. We can share hard news and provide education about options in ways that are compassionate and loving. What we cannot do, though, is presume to know the best way for someone to die.
Listen to Care: The “No Really, I’m Fine” Podcast
In their podcast No Really, I’m Fine, board-certified chaplains Aaron Metcalf and Mike Larson talk with healthcare workers in their Portland hospital about the stresses they face and how they cope emotionally with the daily demands of their jobs. The stories told in the episodes are authentic, heart-warming, and sometimes heart-wrenching accounts of real life in the trenches.
Resource for Perinatal Loss Ministry
“RTS Bereavement Training: Perinatal Death” is a 10-hour online training program that focuses on caring for families experiencing early pregnancy loss, ectopic pregnancy, life-limiting diagnosis, stillbirth and newborn death. Topics include foundational relationship-based concepts and theories, grief and bereavement, communication skills, meaning-making projects, perinatal mental health, self-care and more.
Ministry of Presence
The Ministry of Presence may be in break rooms, cafeterias, or even in the parking lot when walking to or from work. Military Chaplains ensure they are present by doing what soldiers, sailors, airmen, defenders, and marines do. This means going out for field training, airborne operations, physical training, and deployments.
Called to Serve—A Navy Chaplain’s Perspective on Ministry
So much of my ministry is about non-anxious listening without a rush to judgment, which can be incredibly difficult! And I often compare it to the ministry of pulling rocks out of soil rather than reaping the harvest, because so many come with a troubled history with Christianity and “organized religion.”
Spiritual Care and Ministering at End of Life to a Person With Dementia
I have heard the prayers of a person with dementia after someone prayed with them and, although to our ear it may be difficult to understand, the Lord knows their heart inside and out. It is such a beautiful thing to witness. The Lord's Prayer is often familiar to those with a spiritual background and can bring a sense of peace.
A Space for Grace – Son Light in the Darkness of Dementia
Before we were, He was and is already in the womb… that sacred place where nothing is hidden, unseen, unknown, unspoken, or unloved from Him. God’s presence in our created being is described as being with us in our innermost parts; woven together; the way we think and feel; knit together in an unformed body; put together.
Remaining Relationally Present – Spiritual Care for Patients with Dementia
I am a professional spiritual care giver, and it is an honor to provide that relational presence to folks whose condition often leaves them vulnerable and isolated. I have learned to honor family members' choices about how best to interact with their loved one. And occasionally, I have provided emotional support to those trying to cope with the grief that comes with having a family member suffering from dementia.
Sterling’s Song
I would grow to be endeared by Sterling’s humor, caring nature, and honesty in the face of death. Sterling was not a particularly religious person, holding no particular allegiances to any established faith. We had very little personally in common, but sometimes you just click with someone.
Living in the Shadow of Death
It is not unusual for patients to experience spiritual distress throughout their medical journey. Conversely, many patients also find their faith deepened as a result of facing their own mortality. I find that patients who are allowed to express and explore their doubts and fears without judgement are the ones who find their faith most strengthened.
Am I Doing Any Good?: Spiritual Care for People with Cognitive Deficits at the End of Life
Perhaps most importantly, I was told told how to think differently. Instead of thinking, “I am wasting my time here,” think, “the gift of my time here honors this person as an individual worthy of love and respect.” A chaplain’s role is not to fix things or “do” something, but to bear silent witness to the suffering of another person.
Showing Up in Unexpected Moments
To me, chaplaincy is the art of presence. It’s about stepping into the unknown, where the tapestry of life unfolds in unexpected ways. We arrive, often unaware of the stories that await us or the roles we will play. Yet we stand ready, like sentinels of faith, poised for the perfect moment to weave our threads into the fabric of the present.
Let the Little Children Come
As I reflect on the words “Let the little children come to me and don’t hinder them for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven” (Luke 18:15–17), I envision the golden gates of heaven being thrown open and little children everywhere running around with the purest joy you can imagine. Big smiles, no earthly ailments to hinder their physical abilities. I imagine the happiest moment in my life, but instead of just reliving that one moment, it’s a feeling that never ends. But today, this scripture has a whole different personal meaning when I hear it.
Barriers or Bridges?
I was reminded in this encounter of how adaptable chaplains have to be on a daily basis. We show up for the crises but also the liminal space of the unknown. And where others see barriers, we often see an opportunity to build a bridge.
Finding Time for Sacred Silence
Those of us in the chaplaincy caregiving realm of ministry have the privilege of journeying with people in some of their most challenging life experiences. Yet we also, if we’re really engaged with their narratives, are using much psychic and spiritual energy. We need refreshment.