Morning Coffee

The coffee mug is a small token of appreciation given to members of the South Carolina Society of Chaplains members. Our new president, Tamara Flinchum, recommended the idea and it seems that the membership has enjoyed the thoughtful gift--me too! I had my morning coffee in it today and it was a bit celebratory given the fact I just finished my third and final year as president for the Society. I am thankful for the opportunity to serve, yet a bit grateful that my time is up. It’s like having a part-time job without pay in some respects. The “pay” is having the opportunity to lead and to share in the friendship and collegiality of some of the best chaplains in the United States. I kid you not!

After our fall meeting last Friday I had a celebratory meal and drink with my good friend Rev Paul Hamilton. He is the director of pastoral care at The Regional Medical Center in Orangeburg. The meal and drink at Chili’s in Lexington were great. Even better yet was sharing a meal with a friend. Serving as president of the Society has allowed me the opportunity to make deeper friendships with other chaplains from across the Palmetto State. It has also allowed me to attend meetings where excellent speakers have presented and shared their ideas and pastoral care expertise. The friendship and education events are twice a year: spring and fall and usually at the offices of the South Carolina Hospital Association in Columbia. The Society is one of many professional membership groups. Dues are 80 dollars a year and worth the money in my humble opinion.

This week (October 19-25) is Pastoral Care Week in the USA. It is a week where chaplains, pastoral caregivers, and spiritual caregivers (same idea…different words) celebrate the spiritual and pastoral care given to people in times of need. The work is unending but an occasional celebration is always good. This year’s theme is titled, “Spiritual Well-Being,” which is certainly a noble goal for all. I hope you are able to give yourself time to enjoy life and work on your spiritual well-being this week too.
　
　

"Back Home: Still the Same Yet Filled With New Challenges"

My plane landed in Philadelphia about 30 minutes before the expected time. The first real cool front had dipped into the South and the tailwind was a real kick in the tail so to speak. I was happy and don’t remember too many airline flights in my life where I landed 30 minutes early. It was only 8:00am so the City of Brotherly Love was barely stirring. There was a cool, crisp feel in the air and my Columbia brand black fleece was the ticket for staying comfortable. I got my rental car in a fairly uneventful manner and even tried to sell my two tickets to the Eagles game that mom and I had planned to attend but were now unable to attend. The Enterprise car rental guy took my number and I told him I would sell both for 125 total. He said it was still early and he would do his best. I thought, “Early! It’s 8:30 on game day and the game starts at 1:00pm, really?!?!” More on the tickets later.

The ride from the Philadelphia Airport to my mom’s apartment in Willow Grove is one that I will long remember. Knowing the area very well left me wondering if I would take the Schuylkill Expressway to the Turnpike or just take the Blue Route to the Turnpike or even instead, make a leisurely ride through Philadelphia. I chose the latter. If nothing else I was able to save a few dollars on tolls but more importantly I was able to take the Schuylkill Expressway, cross the historic river and then reminisce over the fond memories of growing up on the edge of the city in the town called King of Prussia.

The ride from the airport along the river was amazing. It was clear, blue sky. The famous Boathouse Row universities (Penn, Drexel, etc) houses looking as colorful and beautiful as I always remembered them. Then, I took the bridge across the river and traversed the hills of Manyunk and then made my way through Wissahickon, Wyndmoor, Philadelphia neighborhoods and even into the gas station where they told me there was no public restroom. I thought to myself, “Really?” I got over that and held it in until I could get to a gas station that had one.

Along the way I passed recreational football teams of young kids actually playing football on Sunday morning. I don’t remember my team (King of Prussia (KOP) Indians) ever playing on Sunday morning. Anyway, they were playing and it was a great sight to see. I passed our KOP rivals of Wissahickon, Roxborough, Wyndmoor, Cheltenham, Roslyn and then Glenside. I know that mom reminisces about those days too. Dad would as well if he were still alive. The memories of sticky buns, pizza, weigh-ins, and being my with siblings (Mark played and Wendy and Linda cheered) are good.

Now, back to the Eagles game and time with mom. Well, I had lots of people contact me about buying the tickets for the Eagles/Rams game but no one took the plunge. 9:30am rolled around and I decided to check with my nephews and sure enough one of them could use the tickets. As it turned out it was his first ever Eagles game. I could not have hoped for a better outcome if mom and I could not make the game. Mom and I watched the game and I know that it was easier for her to do so than trek the parking lot and stairs of Lincoln Financial Field. Even better yet the Birds beat the Rams 34-28 but not before almost giving the game away, ala the USC Gamecocks (that’s another story!).

So, life is all about making memories, building and sustaining relationships with family and doing one’s part to help people deal with life’s transitions and challenges. I am far from perfect and most certainly, just trying to be a good son and a good brother to my siblings. I will let all of them decide on that.

Finally, the rolling hills and historic homes and even the messy, sometimes dirty city of Philadelphia is full of life. It is in the heart of the once Middle Colonies, rooted in deeply held religious traditions like The Friends (Quakers), Judaism, and Catholism for the most part with an occasional Bible church and Presbyterian church sprinkled into the neighborhoods. It is rich in history where people stay and never move away just like mom who has been there her entire 75 years. It is home to her and my former home. It is filled with great pizza shops and Tastykakes galore. There are rabid sports talk radio shows (WIP 94 FM) and even historic rock and roll stations (93.3 WMMR) that are still working.

The new part is mom’s transition to senior care and transitioning to a new apartment closer to my sister. Eventually it will be all good. Mom is happy. Mom is slowing down yet the best of Philadelphia and her life is held deep in our hearts. Hopefully, some good days are ahead for her and for us as her family. As people say down south, “Can’t complain!”

A Prayer: Dear God: Thank you for family. Help me to be a blessing and to do my best to help. Amen.

Emma - Irmo High School Class of 2014

Congratulations Heather! Wofford College Class of 2014 - BS/Biology

“No, I Don’t Color My Hair and Neither Do I Use the Tanning Salon!”

Two very good minister-chaplain friends of mine recently commented on my hair. One asked me if I dyed my hair and the other made a sidebar reference to his own receding hair line by mentioning my full head of hair. I am not accustomed to people commenting on my hair color or its length. I can say that I prefer the “low maintenance” approach to hair management. I buy shampoo that literally costs $1.49 a bottle and I can comb my hair in about 30 seconds as I get ready for work and the day after showering. My hair management quotient is low!

Then, recently one of my daughters got a part-time job at a tanning booth. One disclaimer first—I have never used a tanning bed before and I am not sure I would admit it if I had! One day recently I was at the tanning salon picking up my daughter from work and had opportunity to walk in and sit down as she finished her tasks. Then something amazing happened. I noticed that about one-third of the customers who walked in were actually men. I was shocked. I never imagined that so many guys used the tanning salon. Their ages seemed to be in the 20-40 range so I would say they were relatively young.

All right, so what does hair coloring and tanning salons have to do with me? Well, not too much other than it is something I find interesting. I have already decided I will live with what the good Lord gives me—brown and slowly greying hair and skin that is pinkish that tans easy. I guess the hair color and tanning phenomena is a matter of “keeping one’s youth” and/or living life in a way that makes one happy. Regarding hair coloring and tanning salons I am trying to practice a “live and let live” or if you prefer the religious approach, “don’t judge your neighbor!” approach to life. But I must say that being asked if I dyed my hair and seeing men in tanning salons is really challenging that ethic. Just bear with me. I live a pretty simple life!

I try to be a “live and let live” person. I trust that I and others know what they need and want in life. So what if a guy colors his hair or uses the tanning booth. Does it really matter? I don’t think so. Instead those cultural phenomenons are just that—they are part of the culture of staying young and looking good. It’s big business in the USA for sure. As for me I am trying to gracefully age or is it age gracefully. Either way the important word for me is “grace-fully” and less so the word “age.”

Dear God: Help me to be a "live and let live person" who "judges not his neighbor." Amen.

Easter Sunday 2014

“I Saw God Today”
By Chaplain George M. Rossi BCC MA MDiv
Easter Sunday 2014

Just walked down the street to the coffee shop Had to take a break I'd been by her side for 18 hours straight Saw a flower growin' in the middle of the sidewalk Pushin' up through the concrete Like it was planted right there for me to see The flashin' lights The honkin' horns All seemed to fade away In the shadow of that hospital at 5:08 I saw God today
Above you will find the beginning lyrics of the country song, “I Saw God Today,” by singer and songwriter George Strait. This is one of my favorite songs. It talks about “spiritual eyesight” that lets hearers see God in ordinary life. Surely the high and holy days of religion such as Easter and Passover are anything but ordinary. Yet, Mr Strait talks about seeing the face of God as he peered into the new baby unit of the hospital where his baby girl had just been born. For me, it is a matter of “been there, cried those tears and got the hospital bill!” among other things. So, where do you see God? In the song George Strait says he sees God in the flower that is growing up through the concrete. In the hard times of life he still found time to experience God and know the beauty and love of God through nature and people--the flower in the concrete and the baby in the newborn nursery. Easter is a perplexing reality. Jesus is raised from the dead. If that is not radical then let me know what else qualifies! Just recently I did a wedding where the groom told me that his bride (second marriage) helped him to regain the ability to love again. What a powerful word he shared. I was deeply touched that he had been given the gift of love but even more importantly he had allowed himself to feel and experience it. I am not sure where you will experience and feel God in this time of religious holy days but I hope is often and meaningful. Let us open our eyes and see God. He may even be looking at us in the mirror. After all, we are all created in the image and likeness of God. That is a sight to behold and reality to ponder for a lifetime.

Craig and Kevin Stadler: Father and Son Make History at the Masters

My son called me last night and said, "Dad, do you have the Masters app?" I quickly and proudly said, "Yes." Last month I was able to get an iPhone and I really like it and find it helpful for my professional and personal needs. The Masters app is one of my favorite apps and it is really nice that my son asked me if I had it. Dads need their sons to look after them occasionally! I am a big golf fan. Some of you know that. I have been watching Craig Stadler since he won his first and only Masters in about 1982. He is affectionately known as "The Walrus." His mustache and size give that easily away. I could think of kinder nicknames but his name fits and he seems to not mind. Papa Stadler's son Kevin won his first PGA tournament this year and he thus qualified for the Masters this year. In his interview with his father on April 9 a few days ago he referred to it as "being inside the ropes." That is golfer lingo for playing and gaining access to quite possibly the prettiest and most hallowed 18 holes of golf in the world. Augusta National is just plain sweet. I live in the metro Columbia area which is about 80 miles from where the Masters is played. Our azaleas, dogwoods, flowers, and grass are growing and blooming at the same time and pace as those in Augusta. So when our azaleas and trees bloom and the centipede grass becomes more green than brown then that means the Masters is getting ready to tee off. It is nice to be close and to feel the excitement and see similar visual spring reminders. Yet, this post is about a father and son making history. In it's almost 80 years there has never been a Father-Son to play together in the tournament until Craig and Kevin teed it up on Thursday. Kevin is playing well and made the cut and dad is going to be watching the final two rounds! Here is the link to their interview where they talk about making history: http://www.augusta.com/masters/story/news/latest-news/masters-interview-craig-and-kevin-stadler What a great story. I have already added Kevin to "my favorite" on my Masters app. He has not disappointed and I hope he wins it all. In my opinion, he and his dad have already won it all by making history and playing together as the first ever Father-Son to play in the Masters.