Spiritual Formation Catalyst
Working to help people respond to the Spirit's call in the midst
of their everyday lives so that they may experience what Jesus describes as,
"life to the full."
Nancy and I did some work for the Colorectal Cancer Alliance as we seek to redeem my cancer journey into something that helps others.
We recently shared some thoughts with the Colorectal Cancer Alliance.
You can find the complete blog post here, lessons from a stage IV colon cancer patient and his caregiver.
When an interruption turns into a lesson on how the Spirit moves. A sacred conversation reminds me to always look for the Spirit’s gift.
Nancy and I took a few days to relax at Rehobeth beach. The weather was terrific, and we enjoyed walking the boardwalk and finding new places to eat.
Wednesday afternoon, I stole a few hours to do some writing while Nancy wandered the beach.
I searched the hotel for a quiet spot where I could grab a cup of coffee. Finally, I ended up in the pub. It was perfect. Hardly a person in sight, and they gave me a pot of coffee.
Fifteen minutes later, in walks this hippie-looking guy carrying a guitar. He sets his guitar in the corner and leaves. Then, a few minutes later, he is back with more equipment and a mic stand.
So much for my quiet space.
I struggle to find words while watching him set up. My mind is all over the place. Distracted, I am about to give up and find Nancy when he starts playing.
He is pretty good. His sweet spot is 70’s rock classics that take me back to my childhood. Slowly the words started to come. The longer he plays, the faster the words flow. This musician who has “invaded” my quiet space has broken my writer’s block. [Read more…]
As my dad neared the end of his life, my uncle gave quiet, helpful guidance that turned into a caregiver lesson.
As my dad neared death, my family was coping with the loss of our loved one.
There were details that had to be taken care of.
In the midst of our grief, my uncle gave quiet, helpful guidance, making sure that we took care of the important tasks. His advice turned into a caregiver lesson.
If we believe God is alive, well, and working in our world…how do we discern the Spirit’s invitation for our lives?
A conversation with Father Taylor Albright from Trinity Church Tariffville.
Before my dad’s death, he thanked me for taking the time to visit him. I was reminded of the importance of giving time to those I love.
The exhaustion of flying back and forth to visit him was forgotten as he said thank you.
His words provided a caregiver lesson about the importance of giving my time to those I love.
We often pray for God to heal ourselves or those we love. How are we to think about healing and God’s power to heal when we do not experience the kind of healing we long for?
Father Taylor Albright from Trinity Church Tariffville and I talk about healing and living in a way that sees all of life as a gift.
Over the past six years, I have had many teams of nurses. I love my nurses for the way they care for me. I saw it again this morning.
When I arrived for my treatment I was quietly ushered back into the treatment room. The room is large with about twelve “bays” separated by low walls and curtains. You can be as public or private as you want during your treatment.
My MO is to find a corner “bay” put on noise canceling headphones and sleep away the three or four hours of treatment. I count it a good day when I do not hear anything and am awakened at the end of my treatment by one of my nurses telling me it is time to go home.
The problem is those corner bays are precious. A lot of us patients have learned they are nice, quiet places to be.
As I walked in my favorite corner had all the curtains drawn. Curtains drawn mean someone beat me to my spot. My nurse spoke softly and said, “your spot is ready, I pulled the curtains so nobody else would take it this morning.” Talk about awesome! I love these people and the way they care for me.
A few hours into treatment I awoke to all kinds of commotion. One of my nurses had opened the curtain to adjust my drugs and the curtain started falling off the track. The end cap had fallen off and it was clear the curtain was eventually going to end up on the floor. Trying to ignore everything I went back to sleep.
As I got ready to leave I looked at the curtain. It was an easy fix. Someone tall needed a step stool and it could easily be handled.
I found a chair, grabbed the half wall, and was up fixing the curtain before my nurses had a clue.
From across the room first one, then a duet of nurses started stuttering and stammering.
When they asked what I was standing on, I told them the trashcan…more hysteria.
I had the curtain fixed in less than three minutes.
At that point it became a project. “While you are up there, lets find something to keep it from coming apart again.” My nurses repurposed a paper towel, and I fashioned it into a end cap to keep the curtain from coming out in the future.
Once on the ground I received a mixture of chastisement and praise.
While they got me ready to leave I laughed and told them we just saved about a month worth of work orders, multiple trips to the site to view the issue, place an order for parts, and then return to fix the issue. Not to mention some poor nurse would get yelled at for not knowing how to properly open a curtain.
In the end my nurses settled on this endeavor being a form of assessment. On past chemo days I would not have had the energy to attempt fixing the curtain. The fact that I did this must mean I was feeling better.
I wonder how they will write it up in their notes? “Noticed patient climbing to the ceiling and assessed he must be feeling better than previous treatments.”
Some may see the stress caused by caregiving and do not want to experience MY life. I have learned that every life comes with struggles.
While my life seems normal to me, I have learned that other people look at the stress of my life and do NOT want to be ME.
That reality got me thinking about how we think about our lives and the experiences of others.
I pray I will always have the eyes to see the struggles of others and look for opportunities to come alongside and support people in difficult seasons.
One gift of being a caregiver is that we learn to see the world through different eyes.
Asking the question, “Where is God?”
Can we find God in the midst of the difficult seasons of our lives?
A conversation with my friend Father Taylor Albright from Trinity Church Tariffville.
Today I had the opportunity to share lunch with a great group of pastors in the Kennett Square Community.
Over lunch, we shared about the past few years and lessons learned while traveling in a most unique season.
Earlier this week Father Richard Rohr shared a meditation that spoke of A Spirituality of Imperfection, Strength in Weakness. His words rang very true and spoke to my experience over the past six years. In the midst of weakness, the Spirit has been strong and I have seen amazing things.
The blessings I have received over the past six years have been there because, not in spite, of my weakness. It feels as if the weaker I become, the stronger the Spirit moves.
In truth, what is happening is I am getting myself out of the way and allowing the Spirit to work freely.
Where I once sought to be in control and portray a sense of strength and power that facade has been removed. Less of me, more of the Spirit.
As the Apostle Paul says, “It is when I am weak that I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:10
On the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month, I host a small group that meets via ZOOM – Tuesday Night Reflections.
After a time of gathering I present a brief meditation followed by a time of discussion and sharing.
If you want to join in send me a msg and I will get you the ZOOM link.
This past Tuesday I shared about finding strength in weakness.
Daniel has been a seeker his entire life, seeking a deeper relationship with Abba Father. He has served as pastor for American Baptist churches in New York, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania. His passion is to "help people encounter God in the midst of their everyday lives." He writes with a transparency intended to allow others to see the struggles that lead to healing and life. Daniel currently serves as Spiritual Formation Catalyst for A Place in the Conversation.
Daniel's journey was disrupted when the doctor said, "You have stage IV colon cancer." Questions of "Why" and "If only" crowded his mind. Can one encounter God in the midst of a cancer journey? Join this seeker as he shares the pain and joys of this journey not of his choosing. Daniel's wife, Nancy, joins in sharing some of her thoughts, and feelings as she watches her husband fight his battle.