Hopeful Hope

08/24/2026

Think of a moment....a moment that elicits calm.

Think of a memory....a memory that brings you peace.

Think of a celebration...a celebration that causes joy to well in your heart.

Think of a time...a time in your life where you were most hopeful.

Think of a time…when you felt fully known.

Think of a moment…when you felt fully loved.

Think of something you’ve seen...something awe-inspiring and glorious.

Think of a day...a day you wish had never ended.

We tend to view eternity and heaven as a succession of days that never end.

Ancient Hebrews didn’t.

Instead, they viewed eternity as a horizon with no end in sight.

In other words, rather than endless days, they viewed eternity as an endless day.

It is an ongoing, unfolding of glory.

So, back to the beginning...

Think of that moment again...the emotions you felt.

Think of that memory...the one that brings you peace and causes you to breathe deeply.

Think of that celebration again...the one that fills your heart with joy.

Think of that time...when you felt hopeful and nothing could tear that hope away.

Think of that time again…when you felt fully known and fully loved.

Think of what you saw again...and the awe that overcame you like a flood.

Now, imagine that never ends.

Constant hope.

Continuous peace.

Non-stop joy.

Fully known.

Completely loved.

Endless glory.

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart...
- Ecclesiastes 3:11

08/19/2026

"She was surrounded by people she didn’t know, in rooms she didn’t recognize, being peppered with questions she couldn’t answer. She was terrified."

By Brian Hennon

08/17/2026

Navigating the healthcare system can be like trying to to solve a Rubik’s cube.

You figure out one side and realize the other five are all messed up.

Medicare…insurance…hospitals…specialists…rehab…inpatient rehab…outpatient rehab…home care…home health…palliative care…hospice…

Then there’s the long-term care industry.

Independent living…personal care…assisted living…skilled nursing…routine care…respite care…inpatient care…continuous care…

It can be overwhelming from the outside, but for those on the inside, as a patient or family member, it can be maddening.

That’s where Hopeful Hope can help.

Head to the contact page and send me a message or send me an email at [email protected].

08/01/2026

A fantastic article and well worth the read, particularly “The Eight Conversations You Need Before Crisis Strikes”.

https://compassioncrossing.info/when-crisis-forces-the-decision-why-emergency-rooms-and-icus-are-the-wrong-place-to-discuss-your-end-of-life-wishes/

06/26/2026

A family is in the hospital with their wife…mother…grandmother.

She is on 15 liters of supplemental oxygen.

It’s her third trip to the hospital for respiratory distress.

She tells her family she doesn’t want to live like this.

The provider walks in the room.

The family shares her wishes with the provider who tells them there are more treatment options.

She shakes her head no. She wants to go home and be comfortable.

The provider says that isn’t possible.

The family asks about hospice.

The provider says he’s the doctor. It isn’t their decision, it is his.

The family doesn’t know any better.

They don’t think they have a choice.

They agree to have her intubated and put on a ventilator.

She dies in the ICU two days later…wife…mom…grandma.

This may seem like an exaggerated scenario, but it isn’t. It happens more than you may think.

Doctors don’t want to stop…they have been trained to fix.

Families who don’t know they have a choice.

Patients who don’t have an advocate for their wishes.

When it comes to treatment, you have a choice.

When it comes to options, you are in charge.

If you or someone you know is dealing with this right now, shoot me a message.

Let’s talk.

06/19/2026

Conversations about death and dying can be extraordinarily difficult. Trust me, I’ve had thousands.

They usually weren’t diffficult because the subject was about death, but because the people were shocked to hear they were dying.

Maybe their doctor told them, but most of the time, they didn’t. Doctors want to heal. They want to fix and talking about death makes them feel like they‘re giving up.

The reality is, death is part of life and recognizing that can and does increase the quality of that life.

Please take some time and watch this video. It’s well-worth it for anyone who is going to die.

Yes, that’s you.

How do you talk about death with a dying loved one? Dr. Atul Gawand...

06/07/2026

Had the privilege to speak at America’s Keswick last week about finding Joy at the End of the Journey.

After I finished speaking several people came up to share their stories. One dear lady shared how her husband had been in the hospital recently. The hospital staff came in, told her they were bringing in hospice and she said she felt as if she didn’t have any control over that decision. She even asked me, “did I have a choice?”

It reminded me of another family I met a few years ago. Their loved one was in the ICU and the family asked for hospice. The physician said, “that’s not your choice, it’s mine.” They felt bullied by this physician.

To those caring for a loved one or those who will, you always have a choice. You have a choice whether to start hospice, stop hospice, or which hospice agency you use. If you’re struggling with that right now, send me a message.

For those not familiar with America’s Keswick, please check them out and consider supporting this amazing ministry!

America's Keswick is a Christian Retreat & Conference Center located in Whiting, NJ. Serving through conferences and group retreats.

06/01/2026

"The sad truth is, people go without adequate end-of-life care every day and the reasons are legion. Chief among them is a healthcare system that equates quality-of-life only with longevity."

By Brian Hennon

04/16/2026

It’s National Healthcare Decision Day!

The Stats:

33%: Americans have an advanced directive or living will.

15%: Americans who will die a sudden out-of-hospital death.

85%: Americans who will decline slower due to a progressive illness.

100%: Americans who will die.

100%: Americans who refuse to talk about dying who will die.

100%: Satisfaction of those who meet with me to discuss this really important topic.

100%: Amount of times we laugh and smile at Hopeful Hope seminars where we discuss this topic.

100%: Percentage of people who have given 5-Star reviews of Joy at the End of the Journey which discusses this topic and more!

04/14/2026

“Oh no! Mr. Smith is going on hospice!? I love him!”

We hear it all the time...expressions of shock and sadness, whispered in hushed tones.

We see it all the time...looks of sorrow, pain, and sympathy.

They are understandable, but only because hospice is so misunderstood.

For Mr. Smith, though, hospice means FREEDOM.

From pain.

From unwanted ambulance rides.

From being poked and prodded in the hospital.

For Mr. Smith, hospice means FAMILY.

He has no next-of-kin and he’s been forgotten by his friends.

Now he has a nurse who calls him “honey”.

A chaplain who calls him “brother”.

A social worker who calls him “friend”.

An aide who gently washes him and holds his hand.

For Mr. Smith, hospice means DIGNITY.

He’s in charge now, not a medical system that shuffles him from visit to visit, specialist to specialist, treatment to treatment.

He says I’m good today, I don’t need a visit.

He says how often.

He says when.

For Mr. Smith, hospice means HOPE.

That he is loved.

That he is valued.

That he is worthy.