Clinical Pastoral Education – Page 2

I’m here. Really.

Though I haven’t blogged in a week – a longer hiatus than most of my declared blogging hiatuses – I’m here. The CPE residency has been particularly powerful yet draining over these past few weeks, both on the floor with patients and in the pastoral formation/self-learning side of the program. I also preached last Sunday,Continue reading “I’m here. Really.”

Learning About Self

This has been one of those tough weeks that, nonetheless, yields a whole bunch of learning and insight. On Monday I forgot that I was to present a Clinical Report (ie, a verbatim) of a pastoral encounter to my group. Not good. Luckily, one of my CPE peers was able to present a report sheContinue reading “Learning About Self”

1 Thessalonians 2:8

If there is a Bible verse to encapsulate what I have learned in my hospital chaplain residency this year, this is it: . . . we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves . . . [1 Thessalonians 2:8] At the beginning of my residencyContinue reading “1 Thessalonians 2:8”

The Company of Saints

I was recently with a Roman Catholic family in the final hours of their loved one’s life. A priest came and administered the Anointing of the Sick (what we used to call "Last Rites"). During the prayers the priest called on various saints to pray for the patient – from Abraham and David, to MaryContinue reading “The Company of Saints”

A Chaplain’s Grief

Yesterday I witnessed the most gut-wrenching, horrific expression of grief that I could ever imagine. I accompanied a doctor in his horrible task of telling a patient’s wife that her husband did not survive a rather routine, minor surgery. His death was unexpected and tragic. Immediately the woman burst into howling screams, heaves, gagging, gaspsContinue reading “A Chaplain’s Grief”