Author Archives: revaam
Cash Cab
The day began with the typical Chicago early morning travel adventure: Cab wasn’t there at the time I’d requested the night before, I called the company, agent said they’d call me back, received text that cab was 10 minutes away, cab arrived 20 minutes later, and while in the cab I received a text stating […]
Wayfaring Strangers and Weary Pilgrims
Confession: Even with my strong Southern heritage, I’m not a what one would call a Dolly Parton fan, though I do heart her character in Steel Magnolias. However, I’ve found her lyrics to Travelin’ Thru (written in 2005 for the soundtrack of Transamerica) to be very helpful and comforting to families and patients who feel lost, or feel they’ve fallen and had to get […]
Father’s Day
I have shoeboxes full of handwritten (in fountain pen) letters, not notes, full-out letters, from my Dad dating back to before I could even read. I have yet to decipher exactly what portions of some of them say, more from the handwriting style than use of metaphors, but sometimes due to metaphors, too. I learned early […]
Dallas Remix
Mimi was my mom’s feisty, skinny, patriotic, and eccentric step-mother. As a child, I would often spend Friday nights with Mimi, and each time was exactly the same. The first time I had dinner at Mimi’s she opened the cabinets and told me to pick out 3 different colors. So, I picked green, white, and […]
Southwest Sunrise Service
This morning’s very early flight started as ordinary as any other: Some folks looked hungover; some probably were. Some wore yoga pants in attempt to class it up a notch above the pajama pants wearers; others seemed to still be in their Saturday night getup. Then, at some point after the distribution of peanuts and […]
Just Breathe
Today, like every day, I noticed a scar on my chest as I was getting out of the shower, and was grateful, as I am every day, that nobody can see the scar once I put on a shirt. I have had the scar for over twenty years because I had pectus repair surgery as […]
Chaplain App
While I don’t really care that much about technology in general, I quickly fell in love with my iPhone a few years ago. I expected to appreciate the GPS and email on my iPhone, but did not expect to use it so much professionally. I have found it to be invaluable with my travel schedule, […]
From Whence We Came
We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch, we are going back from whence we came. ~John F. Kennedy I was there for less than 72 hours, yet island time was once again kairos time. I returned to the rhythm of […]
World’s Flair
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra kicked off its Keys to the City Piano Festival this week, and the first night included the works of Gershwin, Mozart, and Ravel, and featured pianists Cyrus Chestnut and Orli Shaham. Some of the most talented musicians in the world accompanied each other on stage to share the common language of […]
Prescription for Popsicles
I received a page from a hospital room number I didn’t recognize. On my way to the room, I planned on giving my usual, “Hi, I’m one of the chaplains and this is just a routine visit,” spiel, hoping that my presence wouldn’t scare the family. Sometimes families hear “chaplain” and think, “Angel of Death […]
revaam 