by Christopher Schilling | Dec 9, 2019 | Opinion
Ever since my sister and I were small children, the Christmas season was an important part of our lives. Our mother put a lot of effort into making sure Christmas was special. From covering our house in decorations to constantly playing Christmas music, we were...
by Christopher Schilling | Nov 5, 2019 | Opinion
I sorted through the final box of personal belongs of my late mother last month, finding personal letters, mementos and pictures from her years in high school. While my mother has been gone for over 12 years, sorting through her belongings was an emotional process....
by Christopher Schilling | Jun 4, 2019 | Opinion
It’s no secret that Americans are less frequently identifying themselves by religious traditions. More and more people are opting to identify themselves as “nones” when it comes to their religious identity. Consequently, those of us who are chaplains working in...
by Christopher Schilling | Mar 11, 2019 | Opinion
A team of nurses and doctors surround an elderly man. Standing next to his daughter, a woman in her mid-50s, I try to be what we as hospital chaplains are called to be: a non-anxious presence. With the sounds of alarms and the visualization of a nurse giving chest...
by Christopher Schilling | Nov 9, 2018 | Opinion
I began a new call as a hospital chaplain in northwest Ohio a few months ago. One of the most significant aspects of this calling is the opportunity to converse with my patients (most are in their 70s and 80s) about their life experiences. Working with patients,...
