Kevin Ringstaff

Semester Wrap Up

Semester Wrap Up Parting is all we know of heaven and all we need of hell. ~Emily Dickinson One of the first lessons I learned this year was the difference between pastoral care and counseling. The second is that one size does not fit all. As such, I always start each new encounter with a …

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Rituals & Storytelling

Rituals & Storytelling We have to believe that even the briefest of human connections can heal. Otherwise, life is unbearable. ~ Agate Nesaule One of the most profound and historical ways we’ve dealt with loss as a society is through our rituals of parting. Whatever those might be; they vary by culture and belief. Unfortunately, …

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Serenity & Gratitude

Human-Animal Bond Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened. ~Anatole France The serenity prayer is a tool that I’ve used that seems to resonate with religious and non-religious folk alike. In it’s basic sense, the prayer is telling us that there are things in this world that are outside …

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Crisis of Faith

Crisis Of Faith Lo, I am with you always. Matthew 28:20 I experience a lot of people going through crisis of faith, especially during the first week after a loss. When we start talking about spiritual matters, many of my clients are noticeably upset. They are often feeling anger, intense guilt, fear, and they’re desperate …

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Human-Animal Bond

Human-Animal Bond Whichever way your friend eventually leaves you — you will feel as alone as a single star in the dark night sky. Just like in my past posts, the easiest way I can embody a situation regarding paediatric chaplaincy is to once again relate it to our pets. The loss of a beloved …

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Presence

Presence I will never leave you. Hebrews 13:5 The power of presence is by far the most repeated theme in this course (and others). Practically every chapter and article mentions the power that a person’s simple presence can have in times of crisis. Presence is something that I talk quite a lot about now that …

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