As a hospice chaplain, I visit patients and their families as they are in their last months and days of life. It is humbling. Whether they’re at home or in a nursing home, these patients have something in common: They are being cared for by others. Family caregivers are the…

My husband, Jared, and I have been fur parents for a while. In 2020, we welcomed our first family pet, a golden retriever named Lucky, followed by a delightful Himalayan cat we named Billy. Our home has been lively with the presence of animals for the past three years.

This year’s Hope Conference, a national educational event presented by Hope Charities for the bleeding disorders community, is set for Nov. 2-4 in Florida, with an online option as well. The annual conference, to be presented at the Baytowne Conference Center, in Miramar Beach, is designed to bring together…

Last week, I attended a clergy retreat at Sacramento Camp & Conference Center, in the southern mountains of New Mexico. We experienced clear blue skies and mild temperatures, as well as moments of self-reflection. One day I hiked to the top of a mountain, standing in awe of…

A recent family vacation to the beautiful island of Bohol in the Philippines was filled with unforgettable moments. We climbed steep steps to take in the mesmerizing view of the Chocolate Hills, crossed swaying twin bridges, and visited popular tourist spots like the Tarsier Sanctuary and Bohol Bee…

In the wake of my mother’s tragic passing in February and the havoc wreaked by Hurricane Ian last year, my living space in Florida has undergone a profound transformation. My mother and I had always depended on a cleaning person to keep our condominium tidy. Those services have been…

I’m part of a clergy group that meets monthly and has seven members from several denominations. Over the years, it’s been a safe place to discuss any issue, from church to home. We formed a covenant with one another to keep our conversations confidential. When sharing with my colleagues,…

Alaska, Antarctica, and Greenland have something in common: They’re a few of the places where glaciers are present. A glacier is a large, slow-moving mass of ice and snow that forms over an extended period in areas where more snow accumulates during the winter than melts during the summer. Many…

I first attended a Bleeding Disorders Conference in October 1998. The National Bleeding Disorders Foundation (formerly the National Hemophilia Foundation) offered the event during Halloween week in New Orleans. My wife, Cazandra; my oldest son, Julian; and my mother, Ruby, entered our hotel with me, not sure…

Last week, I attended an alumni meeting for the Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Texas, where I earned my doctor of ministry degree. During my free time, I walked around the University of Texas campus and couldn’t help feeling the energy from all the students who moved like…