Elder Chaplain

Elder Chaplain took a break this summer to focus on another pursuit ...

The Abode of the Divine The seeds for my “Spirit Quest 2026” were planted many years ago. They came to fruition this past July, when four fellow climbers and I, along with two guides, spent five days in pursuit of the su…

Rosalie and I have been here for each other, as friends and in community, for the past 20 years ... Her spirit and wisdom still bring light to all who knew her, even amid the loss.

Rosalie As a chaplain, and as a friend, I often tell others, “Loss is unavoidable—the best thing we can do is show up and accompany each other through it.” Today I invite you to accompany me through the l…

ALS is a disease that, at face value, offers no hope. Please join Elder Chaplain and friends as we practice hope for those with ALS despite the losses it inflicts, and for the hope to end this horrible disease.
https://elderchaplain.com/.../05/16/practicing-hope-for-als/

Experiencing the wonders of our natural world always leads me to ponder why we are so fortunate.

Solar Eclipse On the morning of August 21, 2017, I gather with several family and friends high on a southwest-facing slope under crystal clear skies.  Slowly the sun’s intensity begins to fade, the shadows …

Practicing hope has been difficult this past year ... yet I draw strength from these words of hope from a 15-year-old.

I Am Hopeful In our annual holiday letter to friends and family I wrote, “This year feels exceptionally heavy … but we remain determined to practice hope.  It’s the only thing we know to do—but the work is…

This season I feel led to lift up the many mothers who keep showing up and keep practicing hope despite abundant cause for despair. You are seen. You amaze me and inspire me.

The Matriarch I enter the room of Tara, a woman in her early 40s dying of liver failure caused by alcohol abuse.  She transitioned to comfort care the day before.  She is lying in bed, her skin a deep …

Three stories of courage and faith that inspire me to keep going ... and keep growing.

Women on the Verge Making rounds one morning, a nurse suggested I look in on Viola, age 74, who was having a procedure later that morning.  I reviewed her chart and saw that she’d appreciated visits from chaplai…