I got to know death intimately from a distance when I worked as a chaplain at the hospitals in Minneapolis and Boston. I often would work in emergency/crisis situations, and more often than not, that situation included death. I’ve sat with many people on their deathbed, holding their hand, caressing their forehead, talking, singing, reciting… Continue reading Glimpses of the Unknown

I used to pray. It was pretty generic at first. Repeated table prayers. Asking for things. Begging for solutions. For hope in times of despair. For things that were yet to come. One line has always stood out: “For this child, I have prayed.” It would be included in birth announcements, Ultrasound pictures, bringing home… Continue reading For this child, I have prayed.

Driving my car to Rochester, talking to myself between songs. Fear is a feeling I haven’t felt in a while and I need to deconstruct it’s presence. I allow my faith to fill the gaps fear leaves in my heart. I remind fear it’s only a guest and that love and trust are the perminant… Continue reading Patron Saint of Chicken Noodle Soup

I forget that grief takes root in the body.It takes time to wind its way out. We always think it’s in the heart because it’s the heart that breaks, but it spills through the body. We try to use our minds to comprehend and dissect the pain, but our brains can’t touch it. Our bodies… Continue reading Grief lives in our bodies— a short reflection.

I lost about three months. I mean, I was conscious, obviously, I remember the day to day. But September turned into December and I lost three months. I have pictures to remind me of what we did, the holidays, the photos of my niece being two-year-old silly, my brother visiting from Seattle– but the months… Continue reading Ordinary Time

This sermon was given as a part of a summer sermon series on “Lamenting the Losses” This sermon talks about grief. Thoughts of the People: An excerpt from Susan Beaumont’s book, “How to Lead When You Don’t Know Where You Are Going: Leading in a Liminal Season” Sacred Text: Deuteronomy 1:24-33 Leading Quote: “Humans have… Continue reading Lamenting the Losses (Deuteronomy 1:24-33)

I wrote this for a church newsletter and it turned out a little longer than I thought! I’ve been following a 40 year old gay man from the South on TikTok who went viral for his video post asking for fishing buddies to go fishing. He said he loves to fish but it’s hard to… Continue reading Ordinary Angels

I gave this eulogy at the celebration of life service for my godmother Donna. She was one of the best. On behalf of our family, thank you for being here today to honor the life of Donna. To my godfather and uncle Butch, to Donna and Butch’s children and grandchildren, my cousins and family: thank… Continue reading In Memory of my Godmother, Donna Mae (Gatzke) Wick

I had orange short hair at that point in my life. I tried to be blonde but my brassy brown colored hair had made me orange. A light orange. I think I was 16. Old enough to feel like an adult, impulsive enough to still be a teen. We were camping, I remember because there… Continue reading To The People Who Let Me In… (thank you)

The Word: Secular Reading: One Art, by Elizabeth Bishop The art of losing isn’t hard to master; so many things seem filled with the intent to be lost that their loss is no disaster. Lose something every day. Accept the fluster of lost door keys, the hour badly spent. The art of losing isn’t hard… Continue reading The Art of Losing (Jeremiah 31:31-34)