Created in response to my time as a chaplain in a birth center, 2015-2016.

As many know, I have been doing a chaplain residency this year on my road to ordination. One of my areas of responsibility in the hospital is the Birth Center, which everyone thinks will be fun, until they realize ‘no one calls the chaplain when labor goes well.’ Much of my job has been holding the grief of mothers/families and praying them through their losses.  It is a sacred experience.

As a result of this ministry, I have started sculpting “blessing bowls” … Or baptism font, or birthing vessel… This is my responsiveness: to witnessing the beauty and truth and chaos that is in the birthing process.  This is my responsiveness: to hold another woman’s grief until it becomes bearable.  It is an honor to do this work.