Chaplaincy?

Greetings from SE Wisconsin, currently the land of high 90's and wicked humidity. I've had to walk Dima pre-5 am or post-9 pm, and even then he launches himself into the lake as soon as he's able--nothing like the smell of wet dog before you go to bed! But I feel sorry for the hairy bastard . . . .

On to some different thoughts.

It has been good to be back at Froedtert Hospital. Though I'm not crazy about my actual job duties, I love the people I work with: nurses, surgeons, residents, care techs, chaplains, transporters, and fellow communicators. They are quality people who care well for people . . . . Lately I've been getting to know one of the rabbis who comes in the mornings to see patients before they go into surgery. We've been discussing his career as a chaplain and the pros and cons of the profession. Over the past few years I've entertained the idea of becomig a chaplain. It's a job that requires more listening than talking (something I prefer, believe it or not!) and I love that it interacts with different faiths. At Froedtert we have a host of faiths represented in the chaplaincy department, which I love. I've known for a long time that I could never work in a church setting, as I crave discussions with those who have come to different conclusions about life than myself . . .and I love how those conversations enrich and shape me. I don't condemn those who prefer a church setting--I just know that it would be a recipe for disaster should I go that route.

Back to chaplaincy: for a few years I've considered chaplaincy in a Children's Hospital setting, and over the past few months the idea has been screaming at me for attention. I haven't said much to anyone about it, because I wondered if it was just the yearly restlessness with the current job that was surfacing (see my resume--it's ridiculous), just like previous years. I'm one of those people who is addicted, maybe, to "newness." Jobs, places to live, people, cultures, etc.. I have a need for new adventures. However, with my return to Scony, I think I might be settling into what I love (and maybe what I've always loved, for that matter). I love Oconomowoc and the concerts by the American Legion band in the bandshell on Wed. nights. I love the people who are kind to you when you pass them on the sidewalk. And I love the lakes. I really love the lakes . . . . And there is my apartment, which could not be more perfect, and my dog, and my family close by--the list goes on. Maybe I'm settling down, or growing up, or both. Either way, I'm trying to bring my love for people--especially those who are hurting--together with my love for home.

With that all said, I've decided to see my contract through Decemeber at Thistledew, and I will then be working only at Froedtert. Once I've put my 6 months in there, I'll access my tuition benefits through the hospital and work on finishing up my MDiv, most likely at North Park in Chicago. I only need 5 more credits on campus, and I'll then be able to finish everything up via online classes. With a couple of week-long intensives, meeting those requirements shouldn't be a problem, and I'm actually looking forward to checking in with a couple of professors I connected with during my previous schooling there. I've always respected the Covenant tradition and ideology . . .I love their concerns for social justice, biblical equality, and cultural diversity. I think it would be wise for me to finish there, though I've been investigating an Episcopalian seminary 15 minutes away from where I currently live. And did I mention that I love the UCC church I've gone to on occasion when I've been home? Not even within Christianity can I stick to one denomination! Call it my need for the bigger picture. :) Again, another reason why I would probably actually stay in a career of hospital chaplaincy . . . .

Whew. A lot said there, but it's good to get it in print.

A New Sausage!

Yes folks, the Brewers have added a NEW sausage to the racing team at Miller Park. Does it get any better???

Mind Games

Woke up at 3:30 am to be at the hospital at 5:00 am. Eating breakfast, taking a shower, feeding and walking the dog, throwing a lunch together, and a 40 minute commute fills the time quickly . . . . But I will not complain, as work brings in the cold, hard cash, which in turn, pays off the Los Angeles credit card bills. I try to tell myself “Hey, today your work will pay for a third of your bed frame,” or “Remember when you blew that tire on the 210? Today you’re paying for that tire,” and so on.

Today I’ve decided that I’m paying for one of the grocery runs to Ralph’s or Trader Joe’s.

Early Morning

This morning I woke up at 4:30 am, resentful for having to get up so early for work. And yet, when I walked Dima I encountered one of the most stirring sunrises I’ve seen in a long, long time. A brilliant, pink brooding sky with the lake to match it . . . .

There aren’t words for these moments—just stillness while the colored morning light splashes over you, relieving you from your sense of duty to the world. Quiet awareness; beauty that almost hurts to take in . . .and relief.

It is good to be home.

Expedition Pics-BWCAW

Hocho and a pregnancy test--welcome to Girls Endeavors.

Me carrying a canoe at the portage on Splash Lake.

Vera Lake--one of my favorite lakes in the Boundary Waters.

My 27th B-Day! Thank you, Lindsay, for the "Birthday Party in a Box." The girls loved the lip gloss, cliff bars, and drink mix. The tiara was a lot of fun too! Thanks for making it special for both me and them. I'd post a picture here of them and their rings, but you know how confidentiality laws go . . . .

Dusk on Moose Lake.

Another Expedition accomplished . . . .

A New Favorite

One of the girls read this poem this morning for check-in. I loved it and am posting it below:

Comes the Dawn

After awhile you learn the subtle difference
Between holding a hand and chaining a soul,
And you learn that love doesn't mean leaning
And that company doesn't mean serenity.

You begin to learn that kisses aren't contracts,
That presents aren't promises.

And you begin to accept defeats with the
Grace of a woman, not the grief of a child,
With your head up and your eyes open.

You learn to build all your roads on today,
Because tomorrow's ground is too
Uncertain for plans, and futures have a
Way of falling down in midflight.

After awhile you learn that even sunshine
Burns if you get too much.
So you plant your own gardens and decorate
Your own soul instead of waiting for someone
To bring you flowers.

You learn that you really can endure.
That you really are strong.
That you really do have worth.

And you learn and you learn.