June 2024, Forest Finds: Narrative

Exploring Narrative and Chaplaincy

All humans are defined by our stories. We make sense of our histories, interpret our present, and imagine our futures by weaving stories like threads through time to create cohesive narratives about who we are, what we believe, and to whom we belong. For chaplains entering into encounters with those we serve, inviting careseekers to share their experiences through storytelling is a powerful strategy for meaning-making, self-reflection, and connection both within the chaplaincy relationship and beyond.

Whether we meet careseekers in the middle of day or the middle of the night, chaplains always encounter those we serve in the middle of the series of stories that makes up the narrative of their lives. We almost never have a full view of the narratives that have led to this moment, and we will rarely witness the unfolding of the story after our encounter ends – we only have the present chapter that is the here and now, being written before us.

How we elicit, invite, listen to, hear, understand, reflect back, affirm, enter into and engage the stories we encounter as they are narrated to us by those we serve is at the core of our work as chaplains. Think about the careseekers you provide care for: How do you engage their stories? Are you seeking to learn information, find meaning, assess behavior, connect with events, understand an idea, or simply ride in the sidecar while they drive? Are there stories that you may be unprepared for or reluctant to engage?

Careseekers' identities are defined by their stories. They perceive historical and current events in their lives by connecting the past to the present through storytelling. When careseekers share their experiences, they give meaning, perspective and shape to their narratives, making it possible for us to have an encounter. We meet careseekers in the middle of day or the middle of the night, in the middle of a life of stories. We do not have the first 10 chapters, nor will we have the final 10 chapters. We only have the present chapter that is the here and now before us. How we listen, hear, understand, consume, reflect, and engage a narrative is at the core of our work as chaplains. Think about the careseekers you provide care for. How do you engage their stories? Are you seeking to learn information, find meaning, assess behavior, connect with events, understand an idea or simply ride in the sidecar while they drive? Are there stories that you may be unprepared for or reluctant to engage in?

Can You Use This?

Priest Uses A String

How one Catholic Priest used some twine to help a careseeker visualize the redemptive story of her life.

Fascinating Fact

Your brain loves good storytelling

Storytelling makes us human. It is the oldest art form we have and it is full of surprises.

Real Talk

A Fine Chaplain Someday

What happens when someone who has had careers as a sports attorney, an anthropologist, an artist, and a judge takes the leap to seminary and an assisted living internship?

Your Cup

Embrace this gospel: take a nap.

What would shift if chaplains regularly prioritized our own spiritual, physical, and emotional well-being as foundational to our ability to offer impactful care?

What If

Feed first, ask questions later.

See what happens when a pediatric chaplain in a Chicago children’s hospital listens deeply to a mother’s story and suspects a history of food insecurity.

Theory & Practice

The powers that shape our stories.

What if the stories we tell, steeped in themes of agency, redemption, communion, and contamination, are not just narratives, but the essence of our identity?

In Dialogue

Decoding life through narrative.

Discover how the stories we tell, from ancient myths to office misunderstandings, shape our realities and truths in Mary Catherine Bateson's "Composing Life."

Inspiring Interventions

Overcoming patient resistance in palliative care.

Strategies for overcoming obstacles to provide the care that careseekers may not realize they need.

Arts Matter

Experience the artistic side of chaplaincy in a fresh approach to spiritual care.

Have you ever brought a poem, an image, a film clip, or a musical selection to a care encounter? How can art assist someone share their narrative?

At The Intersection

Spirituality, religion, and philosophy: related yet distinctive.

Delve into the role of narratives in chaplaincy, revealing how they navigate the spiritual landscapes of Black careseekers, the transformation narratives within the prison system, and the interfaith dialogues in academic settings.

Always Assessing

How to capture meaningful moments.

Discover a new tool to help careseekers explore and engage with their journey.

Culture Moves

Culturally humble, always curious.

Chaplains who demonstrate cultural humility are always curious. We seek to learn more about those we serve through the contextual frameworks that inform their stories. Here are some specific cultural scenarios to ponder.