Words Matter

amador-loureiro-779-unsplash

Photo by Amador Loureiro on Unsplash

When I write, I understand that words matter.  Sometimes I struggle to find the perfect word to convey what I am feeling or thinking.

I come from the corporate world where words also matter.  But it’s a little different there.  No matter what company you work for, there will be a special vocabulary.  Buzzwords and phrases.  Taking things offline, one-off, piggybacking on something, push-back, if I’m hearing you correctly.  The list is almost endless.  Often, using these buzzwords show that you’re a good fit for your team.  You’re seen as part of the “in” crowd.  But use them too much and you may find yourself the target of a buzzword bingo sheet.

Continue reading “Words Matter”

Pastoral Care in Unexpected Places: Queer Eye

harry-quan-486229-unsplash

Photo by Harry Quan on Unsplash

Here we go.  Article 1 of Pastoral Care in Unexpected Places.  Queer Eye.  Are you excited?  You should be.  Go ahead.  Get excited!

One of the reasons I wanted to do this is not only to call out and celebrate the moments in which pastoral care is practiced but to also show you that even if you aren’t a pastor, you can be pastoral to those around you.

Let’s review what my current and somewhat clunky definition of pastoral care.

Continue reading “Pastoral Care in Unexpected Places: Queer Eye”

New Series: Pastoral Care in Unexpected Places

matheus-ferrero-159633-unsplash

Photo by Matheus Ferrero on Unsplash

Last year, I accepted that God was calling me to be a pastor.  It was sudden and it was unexpected.  Well, at least to me it was.  And since then, I’ve been thinking about a lot of things as far as pastoring goes.  My recent exploration of church size is one of those things.

But another big topic on my mind is pastoral care.  If you don’t know what that means, you’re not alone.  I didn’t until about two years ago.  And as I prepare to take Introduction to Pastoral Care this semester, I’m willing to bet that even my definition of pastoral care will be refined.

When you think of a pastor, what comes to mind?  Preaching.  Weddings.  Funerals.  Hospital Visits.  Yes to all of those things.  Which of those is considered to be pastoral care?  My answer?

Continue reading “New Series: Pastoral Care in Unexpected Places”

Grief and Its Effects

sydney-sims-519706-unsplash

Photo by Sydney Sims on Unsplash

One thing that you should know about me is my husband died by suicide almost four and a half years ago.  It is possibly the one event that has changed my life more than any other.  If you have been affected by suicide or the death of a spouse, you know that either of these things is traumatic on their own.  But to have both happen simultaneously is a heavy load to bear. Continue reading “Grief and Its Effects”

Website Built with WordPress.com.

Up ↑