Caregiving: The Language of the Heart

(The following article is written by Dan Bonner who a Lifeline Pastoral Care Volunteer for Central Texas) The frail, wisp of a man barely puckered his cover-sheet; however, you could tell he was a much loved giant in the eyes of the man and woman standing beside his bed. A son on his right side [...]

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New Beginnings

As we enter a new year, I’m involved in several projects that have to do with making a new start. First, I’m involved in my church’s search for a new preaching minister – always a time of renewal for a church. Second, I’m writing letters of recommendations for three former Lifeline interns who are applying [...]

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Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference

I offer to the weary soul a poem I found in Phillip Yancey’s book on “Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference.” One can almost see the scenes that the author paints. I hope it refreshes you as it did me. The Peace of Wild Things Wendell Berry, Collected Poems When despair grows in me and [...]

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My Flowers Needed Watering

Emma’s deep, racking cough shook the room. It had persisted over many days, despite the best efforts of her doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists, and other caregivers. Although she had great difficulty talking in between coughing fits, she insisted that I stay. Her family, who were usually present, were not in the room, and she wanted [...]

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In the Valley of the Shadow When Grief and Loss Prevail

Death. To speak the work evokes deep sensations. Sometimes fear. Sometimes anger. Sometimes wonderment. Sometimes acceptance. From the womb, we are created as survivors. The will to live is powerfully tenacious, a motivator stronger than despair. As do the animal and plant kingdoms, we fight death with our inmost being. We liken death to defeat, [...]

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New Year’s

As the year wound down, I could scarcely believe it. 2010? The date sounds foreign to my ears and looks strange to my eyes. How could it be that so much time has gone by? How much the world has changed since the day of my birth! When I was born, there were no computers [...]

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