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Blog postWe have coral bells in our yard. On the mound which covers the stumps of two pine trees we cut a couple decades ago, mixed with columbine and ground cover. In front of the house mixed with the German sage and iris and purple coneflowers. By the deck mixed with the coneflowers and daisies and clematis.
I like the bigger flowers, the brighter colors. I’ve neglected the coral bells. They were flowers that Nancy liked, and since I love Nancy, I acknowledge their existence and right to be -
Blog postI’m a hospital chaplain. At our hospitals, each time someone dies, we talk with the next of kin about the funeral home they will be using.
We talk about more than that, of course, offering compassion and presence and giving permission for questions and pain. But I tell you about the funeral home conversation to let you know that we always connect with people in their hardest moments.
Even when the person that dies is only a few weeks from their beginning.
I’m realizing -
Blog postI’ve spent the last several months doing my work as a chaplain and doing my work teaching and consulting and doing my work writing here.
I like my work.
I realized the other day, listening to a conversation about moments of failure, that I don’t actually have many moments of failure. Of making an attempt and falling short in a catastrophic way. There are some actual ones, but in truth, most of the failures that I have imagined have never happened, mostly because I haven’t take -
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Blog postGod.
Paul asked you to help people understand how big your love is.
As they came together and learned together and prayed together,
he wanted them to deepen in your love.
He wanted them to know your love.
We want to know your love.
We think it looks like enough to eat, even if it takes a miracle.
We think it looks like being able to walk, even if it takes a miracle.
We think it looks like being on the road to life,
even if -
Blog postI know that you are disappointed. You were really hoping for that.
You were praying and being open and trying to not be too optimistic, but you had some valid reasons to want it. And it went to someone else who you know will do fine.
But you are disappointed.
A couple thoughts.
First, it’s not a sin to have wanted it, nor is it a sin to be disappointed, nor is it a sin to be sad, to be frustrated, to feel stuck.
I give you permission to feel that way fo -
Blog postIt is possible for something to be true, and always true, and sometimes not helpful at all.
Some people assume that statements from the Bible are always true and always helpful.
And so, for example, in moments of deep grief following the loss of a child, someone will say to the parents, “in all things God works for the good of those who love him.”
It is a true statement.
It is not in this moment a comforting statement. And as it often is used, it actually means -
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Blog postRich Dixon’s on the road again.
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I love Jon’s simple image of Jesus and campfire stories.
The FREEDOM TOUR team will gather this weekend to ride bikes in the beautiful Colorado mountains. Four days, four passes, 21,000+ feet of climbing with 22 great people surrounded by 14,000 ft. peaks – what could be better than that?
Days are for cycling, evenings are for community. A meal, time to re-live the day’s conquests, an opportunity to re-charge, unwind, and con -
Blog postI have to talk with you about timing and about how timing matters when talking to grieving, questioning, hurting, waiting, wondering people.
But I don’t have my conversation all worked out yet.
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You know how when someone is waiting for the lab report that will tell them whether or not they will die sooner rather than later?
And you want to say something because silence is so hard. And so you say, “God’s got this” because it seems encouraging and it fills the -
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Blog postIt happened more than I care to admit last week. I was talking to a friend about a hard season. “Have you talked to someone?” I asked. And encouraged it. I was talking to a beloved about sore joints. “Have you thought about some yoga?” I asked, pointing to the value of stretching. I was talking to another beloved about the comments that people leave in response to news stories shared on Facebook. “Don’t read them,” I said.
I could continue to scroll back through my memory for all thos -
Blog postGod.
We tell you all the time what we want from you.
We tell you all the time what we will do for you to get it.
We tell you all the time what it means that you aren’t doing what we want you to do after we’ve told you what we are going to do for you.
“If you heal my dad,” we say, “I’ll do anything for you.”
“I’ve been really faithful,” we say. “I should have that job.”
“I’m doing what you told him to do,” we say. “Where’s my blessing.”
I -
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Titles By Jon Swanson
This Is Hard: What I Say When Loved Ones Die. (Resources on Faith, Sickness, Grief and Doubt Book 6)
Apr 23, 2021
by
Jon Swanson
$0.99
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"God. We Need You.": A Year of Prayer in a Hospital Chapel (Resources on Faith, Sickness, Grief and Doubt Book 5)
Jun 21, 2020
by
Jon Swanson
$0.99
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God. We Still Need You.: A Year of Pandemic Prayer and Practice From a Hospital Chaplain
Mar 23, 2021
by
Jon Swanson
$5.99
Other Formats:
Paperback
A Great Work: A Conversation With Nehemiah For People (Who Want To Be) Doing Great Works
Nov 29, 2013
by
Jon Swanson
$0.99
Other Formats:
Paperback
