Journal of Sacred Work

Days 2012-2013 A Spark of the Divine

 

“The face of the water, in time, became a wonderful book- a book that was a dead language to the uneducated passenger, but which told its mind to me without reserve, delivering its most cherished secrets as clearly as if it uttered them with a voice. And it was not a book to be read once and thrown aside, for it had a new story to tell every day.” - Mark Twain, Life on the Mississippi

 As I heard this quote this week my love of Mark Twain’s writings was rekindled. How that man could turn the ordinary word into incredibly imaginative and entertaining story overflowing with wit, humor and satire.  Boy, could he spin a yarn when telling a tall tale.

Born as Samuel Clemens in Missouri in 1835, Samuel was one of seven children although sadly, several of his siblings died in early childhood as happened all too often in those days. At age 11, tragedy struck again when Samuel’s father died and Samuel had to learn make his own way in the world. At age 13 he became and apprentice in his brothers print shop and  worked in several print shops during those early years writing funny stories about life in America.

It was in or about 1857, that Samuel took an excursion down the Mississippi River and was so moved that he left his writing career to pursue his dream of becoming a riverboat pilot. He worked hard to earn his pilot license and then apprenticed with Horace Bixby on a steamboat to learn the mighty Mississippi currents, her shifting channels, reefs, hidden rocks and dangerous snags. Samuel mastered the art of piloting while steaming up and down the Mississippi for four years and he eventually assumed the pen name of Mark Twain, which is a term used in river navigation that refers to water that is two fathoms or 12 feet deep.

Interesting, Samuel was born during the time Haley’s comet passed through earth’s atmosphere and he died 73 years later when Haley’s comet revisited. Perhaps a synchronous moment as the universe heralded a Spark of the Divine that manifested in a unique expression of life as our beloved and beguiling Mark Twain.  

Liz Sorensen Wessel

Days 207-211 How Leaders Never Miss an Opportunity to Miss an Opportunity

   "Here's what we doctors say about administrators," a cardiologist said recently, "They never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity."

   The comment is painfully accurate. Most leaders squander their best power: To make life better for caregivers & patients. 

   As a trial lawyer entering hospital leadership in 1975 I asked myself a core question & got an answer that changed my life &  the lives of hundreds of thousands since.

   Who is my client?"

   I sat in the ER & watched patients come go. Untrained in anything but law, I wondered how I could help? A Code Blue was called. I took a few steps & stopped. What was I going to do, draft a will? I knew I could use the law to warn of the need for better care but I was given the chance to do more. 

   That is how it came to me. I was responsible for several departments. Maybe those caregivers were my "clients". If I took loving care of them they would take better care of patients & each other. As a side point, we would also minimize lawsuits & practices that lead to them. I had the power to impact the quality of their lives & they had the power to heal people in need!

   I did not want to "miss this opportunity."

   For the next forty-five years I led tens of thousands of caregivers in three different health care systems, a healthcare company & two charitable foundations. The simple leadership mission of "taking care of the people who take care of people" resonated through every place I led. Employee & patient satisfaction (also quality & finance) soared in every setting. That work continues in hospitals that practice Radical Loving Care^® (RLC).

   What is being squandered? Most leaders fail to practice RLC. Instead of nurturing, they threaten. Instead of removing bad leaders they tolerate mediocrity. Instead of loving their work they demean it as just a job.

   Culture determines behavior. Leaders determine culture. Leaders have a massive opportunity to create cultures of loving care. When they waste that they betray the mission of the hospitals where they lead. 

   Please share this. Ask leaders to sit in the ER & ask themselves one question: How can I impact patient care? What if I took better care of caregivers: encouraged & inspired them, made sure they had supportive leaders, had them tell me how they give loving care & thus empower them as teachers. What if I practiced a core element of Radical Loving Care: humility. 

-Erie Chapman  

Days 205-207 "More than We Deserve"

A dear friend and colleague sent me this reflection by Robert R Walsh which I read while listening to Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto and my spirit soared. I in turn share this gift with you. 

"I heard the Second Brandenburg Concerto played in honor of Bach’s 300th birthday, and I was swept away. I remembered a story about the people who send messages into outer space.

Someone suggested sending a piece by Bach. The reply was “But that would be bragging.”

Some say we get what we deserve in life, but I don’t believe it. We certainly don’t deserve Bach.

What have I done to deserve the Second Brandenburg Concerto? I have not been kind enough; I have not done enough justice; I have not loved my neighbor, or myself, sufficiently; I have not praised God enough to have earned a gift like this.

Life is a gift we have not earned and for which we cannot pay. There is no necessity that there be a universe, no inevitability about a world moving toward life and then self-consciousness. There might have been…nothing at all.

Since we have not earned Bach—or crocuses or lovers—the best we can do is express our gratitude for the undeserved gifts, and do our share of the work of creation."

(The fifth Brandenberg Concerto)

What a gift it is to be alive and for our lives to intersect as companions on this journey. Each of us an inextricably beautiful expression of Love.

I am grateful that our minds, hearts and spirits connect in unique and wondrous ways!

Thank you for your friendship and for the precious gift that you are.

Liz Sorensen Wessel
Artwork by ~liz

Day 192-193 - Sacred Visions

Sacred visions appear in our everyday environment!

What do you see in the photo? Is it just blown bits of street sweepings or can you see a small bird in its nest?

With each new day, look for unexpected signs of God's love in common people, places, and things!

And believe in everyday miracles waiting for you to care.

-Terry Chapman, Ph.D, Guest Contributor

Days 187-191 - A Shock While Peace Fishing

 

  It is a gift to live in a peaceful neighborhood. Such a gift that I decided to head out to my back yard to fish for something we all seek. Peace. 

   Within 20 seconds I got a shock! Just click on the video & catch a good laugh.

   Why is peace so elusive, especially for caregivers? After all, it is free, always available & right inside us. Yet, it can be as hard to reel in as one of the precious trout my cousin Dr. Terry Chapman catches. But whether or not he comes home with a fish he always captures the real prize fishing can offer: Serenity. (see his prior Journal post.)  

   Monks & meditators catch Peace Fish every day. What do they understand that we do not?

-Erie Chapman

    

Days 185-186 - Mindfulness

The following is an essay by Dr. Terry Chapman:

Mindfulness is simply being aware of the moments in our lives as caregivers when a small act can have lasting results. A smile to greet a patient as you enter their room; a pleasant "hello" to a stranger as you shop; or an email, text, or phone call to someone who knew you long ago.

 

Being remembered brings warm feelings of being cared for that

can transform into "mental medicine". And the receiver tends to pass that mindfulness along to others.

 

Try to recall a time when you received contact from a family member, friend, or colleague after a passage of time and what it meant to you. Then browse your mental list for someone who would appreciate hearing from you, however long since your last interaction.

 

We are all journeying on planet Earth as pilgrims! When we reunite we join our spirits which gladdens both our worlds and smooths our pathways toward Heaven!

 

Terry Chapman, Ph.D

Special thanks to Terry (pictured) for this 4th of July weekend post. -e