Journal of Sacred Work

Catching Tears

[Jesus] told him, "Go wash yourself in the pool of Siloam" (Siloam means "sent"). So the man went and washed and came back seeing!  John 9:7

Compassion is not administered in cubic centimeters from a syringe but is found in a river of love that flows from the heart.  - Erie Chapman

   She crosses the threshold of the Siloam clinic in Nashville holding a wash cloth against the side of her face. She is from Guatemala and speaks no English. A caregiver sees her slumped in the waiting room. "Does she have a toothache?" he worries, because there are no dentists at the Clinic. "Has she received a blow to the face in an auto accident" he wonders next.
   He approaches her. Through a translater, the caregiver learns something stunning. Why the wash cloth?  "It is to catch my tears," the woman says in Spanish.
   Abused by her husband, this woman has no visible physical wounds, but her sadness is intense, deep, and beyond any translation that uses words. The Siloam Clinic does an exquisite job of caring for all kinds of health problems that afflict their largely immigrant patient population. How do they treat sadness, especially when there is the barrier of language?...

HCN: The Power of Peacemaking Circles - How They Make Oasis an oasis

   So many of the people I counsel come to me depressed because they feel unheard. - Mary Lynne Musgrove, Professional Counselor, Columbus, Ohio

  Peacemaking Circles have become a powerful way to help both the children we serve & many of their parents feel heard.  - Anne Pruett, Oasis Center

   How do we know we exist? Most of us look for cues from the people around us. Are we seen, heard, recognized by anyone else? So many people's lives are damaged because they grew up never feeling heard & therefore not valued. In Nashville, some teens seek help from a marvelous organization called Oasis Center. Why?... 

HCN: Alive Hospice - From Very Good to Great

What does it take to transform a charity that's already performing well into an organization that delivers Radical Loving Care consistently?

Over the past two years, in partnership with the Healing Trust, Alive Hospice has recognized this challenge and accepted it. What have been some of the keys to their success?...

Interfaith Dental Clinic

We are pleased that Dr.Rhonda Switzer-Nadasdi & Interfaith Dental Clinic have accepted the Trust's invitation to join the Healing Charities Network. Interfaith Dental is one of the finest and most caring charities in Middle Tennessee and we are grateful that Dr. Switzer will be lending her wisdom and experience to the group.

Healing Charity Network Announced

The Healing Trust is pleased to announce the Healing Charities Network (HCN), established to highlight some of the best practices among top charities in Middle Tennessee