One of the gifts of your writing is that you help clear the fog and the noise, and help us see what is real and truly most important. Thank you for this glimpse into your hospice work + the invitation to sanity here; of valuing people and the one actual life we've been given. Always an honor + so helpful to read your words.
This is a tremendous reflection Ryan, thank you. So much of this resonates, especially having time to reflect on a grieve the trendies upheaval and pain of the past several years and more recently your past year. It's hard to fight against that crush of move on, move up...isn't it
A lot of this resonates, including "Life is not a salvation game anymore. I still personally encounter the presence of God and the mystery of Christ. But when someone sheds the label of Christian in their own pursuit of healing, I heed. I honor. I respect."
I'm so much less interested than I used to be in questions of who considers themselves "saved" or who carries what religious labels. I'm more interested in being open to the presence of God in whatever forms she takes.
So much of this resonates with me. I, too, work in hospice offering spiritual care, I have and am a leader in another ministry. This all rings true to me. Thanks for being honest and real.
You're a really good writer. I have great respect for those of you who work in hospice. As I've walked with my father and other loved ones as they experienced hospice care at the end of their lives, I was very impressed with the compassion and skill of the nurses and other hospice staff. I look forward to reading more of your work. There's something about the end of life that reduces all of us to our common humanity. When I worked in rehabilitation counseling, I specialized in grief and adjustment to disability. We encounter various losses throughout our lives. Being able to honor the process matters. I am grateful that you have accompanied those who don't have family or close friends with them in the final stretch of their lives. I think your friend had it so right--death is normal. One day, all of us will experience our final breath. I've considered it an honor to be with relatives and close friends at the end of their lives. Doesn't your work remind you of the value of life and make you even more aware of living fully in the time we have on earth?
Ryan, another beautiful reflection. Your embodied presence, smoothed and softened and etched with grace because of what you and KJ have experienced, both the good and horrific, is what creates such a beautiful piece. No one wishes for the struggles, but only can hold on as the rapids of suffering take their toll. Seeing the sacred in the midst of the hard is what Lewis Smedes describes as having "magic eyes." Thank you for sharing your heart once again and God bless those who experience your comfort.
Appreciating your heart and presence behind these words, Ryan. I was invited back to embody my hospice years as it connects with those navigating thru religious institutions.
I cared for my mom with support of a Hospice staff. Her faith was strong. So is mine. We were both fine with it. Now my Dad is 87 and I'm helping him - meals, cleaning, etc. When his time comes, we both hope he can stay home with Hospice as well. I will also be there with him. We are promised, "Dying you will surely die" due to sin. That's what aging is - the slow death. God's grace enables those of faith to face it without fear. Then, in a moment, "to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord." The actual, final dying is instantaneous.
“The cultural current works against grief. It works against community. It works against healing.”
I ache with this.
One of the gifts of your writing is that you help clear the fog and the noise, and help us see what is real and truly most important. Thank you for this glimpse into your hospice work + the invitation to sanity here; of valuing people and the one actual life we've been given. Always an honor + so helpful to read your words.
This is a tremendous reflection Ryan, thank you. So much of this resonates, especially having time to reflect on a grieve the trendies upheaval and pain of the past several years and more recently your past year. It's hard to fight against that crush of move on, move up...isn't it
A lot of this resonates, including "Life is not a salvation game anymore. I still personally encounter the presence of God and the mystery of Christ. But when someone sheds the label of Christian in their own pursuit of healing, I heed. I honor. I respect."
I'm so much less interested than I used to be in questions of who considers themselves "saved" or who carries what religious labels. I'm more interested in being open to the presence of God in whatever forms she takes.
So well said Liz!
So much of this resonates with me. I, too, work in hospice offering spiritual care, I have and am a leader in another ministry. This all rings true to me. Thanks for being honest and real.
You're a really good writer. I have great respect for those of you who work in hospice. As I've walked with my father and other loved ones as they experienced hospice care at the end of their lives, I was very impressed with the compassion and skill of the nurses and other hospice staff. I look forward to reading more of your work. There's something about the end of life that reduces all of us to our common humanity. When I worked in rehabilitation counseling, I specialized in grief and adjustment to disability. We encounter various losses throughout our lives. Being able to honor the process matters. I am grateful that you have accompanied those who don't have family or close friends with them in the final stretch of their lives. I think your friend had it so right--death is normal. One day, all of us will experience our final breath. I've considered it an honor to be with relatives and close friends at the end of their lives. Doesn't your work remind you of the value of life and make you even more aware of living fully in the time we have on earth?
Ryan, another beautiful reflection. Your embodied presence, smoothed and softened and etched with grace because of what you and KJ have experienced, both the good and horrific, is what creates such a beautiful piece. No one wishes for the struggles, but only can hold on as the rapids of suffering take their toll. Seeing the sacred in the midst of the hard is what Lewis Smedes describes as having "magic eyes." Thank you for sharing your heart once again and God bless those who experience your comfort.
Appreciating your heart and presence behind these words, Ryan. I was invited back to embody my hospice years as it connects with those navigating thru religious institutions.
I cared for my mom with support of a Hospice staff. Her faith was strong. So is mine. We were both fine with it. Now my Dad is 87 and I'm helping him - meals, cleaning, etc. When his time comes, we both hope he can stay home with Hospice as well. I will also be there with him. We are promised, "Dying you will surely die" due to sin. That's what aging is - the slow death. God's grace enables those of faith to face it without fear. Then, in a moment, "to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord." The actual, final dying is instantaneous.