By David Lewellen
Vision Editor
To all old and new NACC friends, welcome to our new issue of Vision, the first one I have edited in my return engagement. It is good to be back with you.
Since I left the association six years ago, I have been hired, downsized, and rehired at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, had two kids, seen them grow old enough to enroll in school, and done a lot of writing about paint, roofing, and ductwork. I am excited that once again with Vision I will have a chance to work with writers about spirituality, meaning, and connection.
This issue also includes many first-person stories about how chaplains respond to disaster, and I encourage you to take some time to read their accounts. Even if you don’t see yourself rushing to the scene of the next tornado, the stories of our chaplains who do feel that call make absorbing reading. They have witnessed great suffering and great strength, endured minor hardships of their own, and found some lighter moments in the gloom.
The theme of our next issue, scheduled to post in May, is the value of chaplaincy, to both institutions and patients. We are still accepting submissions; if you have an idea, please write to me at dlewellen@nacc.org. And if there is anything else on your mind that you wish to share with the membership, please let me know as well. I look forward to working with you to create the best piece of writing that we can.