Journal of Sacred Work

Loved Into Being

As we near the end of International Women's month, I came across this collage that I made in my little art journal some time ago. These are just a few of the women who have inspired me or touched my life in a memorable way for their courage and for the unique ways in which love has flowed through their lives and into the hearts of others.  Be it through beautiful music and sacred chant, education, spiritual truths, the arts, meditation and unconditional love and acceptance, having the courage to speak up in the midst of great injustice, or living a life of service for the benefit of those who suffer and are in great need. 

One such woman is Dr. Helen Brooke Taussig, (not pictured here) Born in 1898 in Cambridge, Massachusetts who faced numerous personal and professional obstacles. Although stricken with dyslexia and profound hearing loss, she pursued her dream of becoming a physician and specialized in pediatric cardiology. In the 1940s, congenital heart defects were a common and often fatal condition in infants, with little hope of effective treatment. Dr. Taussig's determination and innovative thinking led her to collaborate with surgeon Dr. Alfred Blalock and lab technician Vivien Thomas at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Together, they developed the groundbreaking "Blalock-Taussig shunt," a surgical procedure to alleviate "blue baby syndrome," which resulted from Tetralogy of Fallot, a congenital heart defect.

Dr. Taussig dedication and perseverance changed the lives of countless children through her ground breaking work in pediatric cardiology. Additionally, Dr Taussig was a vocal advocate for women in medicine and a pioneer in campaigning against the use of thalidomide—a drug linked to severe birth defects—in pregnant women.

Her courage and commitment to science and humanity continue to inspire and remind us of the profound impact that one determined individual can have on the world.  Even in dark times there are so many good people working to make this world a better place. 

We have been given the gift of life from Our Creator who loved us into being, and it was our precious mothers who first loved us. Let us keep Love's torch burning brightly and carry the torch forward for the benefit of all. 

Let us stand strong together!

Shared by Liz Sorensen Wessel
Mother Teresa watercolor by ~liz

Internet Photes: Tara Brach, Kathryn Hepburn, Deva Premal and Miten, Marianne Williamson, Malala Yousafzai

When Fairies Dance

When Fairies Gather Together

When fairies dance together

It’s such a lovely sight,

Collectively they twinkle

As one large orb of light!

If you’ve ever heard a tinkling sound

like chimes or little bells

‘Tis the fairies laughing

as they cast their little spell.

For when Fairies gather together

The Magic-it begins,

‘Tis time for Merry making

As they dance to violins.

Their gaiety they spread like fire

to all who wander near,

Lightening hearts and spreading smiles

and filling all with cheer.

It’s just the fairy way you see-

these playful little sprites,

are like a candle to the soul-

Lighting up the darkest nights.

They dance and dance round and round

until the music ends,

For now their magic is complete

And their dinner feast begins.

They drink their fairy nectar

and clink their little cups,

Toasting to ALL of life

Before it’s time to sup.

So-

Next time your heart feels lighter

and you feel the urge to smile,

Or a giggle rises up in you

after such a long, long while,

That you scratch your head in wonderment,

‘Cause you can’t quite figure why,

You’ve stumbled in to a fairy land

Not seen by the naked eye!

 

Once again, I offer this little bit of whimsey to welcome spring. I painted the above picture for my granddaughter Rejie when she was quite little, in hopes that it might bring her some delight. She loves butterflies and I imagined her sitting on this flower as the precious, beautiful spirit that she is. 

Today, I offer this for you, as caregivers who may feel emotionally exhausted, may you find renewal and please know you have our deepest gratitude for all you have given and for making a difference in the lives of so many.

And for those of you with a heavy heart, especially in these challenging times, may Love lighten your burden, hold you safe and secure, and affirm in every moment just how precious you are.

Blessings of Spring!

Shared byLiz Sorensen Wessel
Watercolor by ~liz

Poem by ©Rebekah Ann Stephenson 2013

 

An Early Glimpse of Spring for Caregivers

Instead of words, I send you moving pictures in this short, YouTube video I made for you. Hope it helps you s. Just click on the link (and ignore the stormy lead in:-): 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVTRUACAdXc

Happy Spring to each of you.

Erie 

"At Play in the Fields of the Lord"

“The single most important thing a leader does is to take care of the people who take care of people-to serve those who serve.”  
-Erie Chapman

One way to support caregivers is to build connection through relationships. Erie modeled this understanding through by working alongside caregivers. Practice-like anything worthwhile requires intention and effort. Just as a musician needs to practice their instrument you need to practice and model love in action.

Our Works

Everyone who seeks meaning in their life,
seeks meaning in their work.
And, yet, how far we are driven away
from that meaning at times
by what we feel are the pressures of the moment-
And the sense that we are not in control.

We diminish ourselves in that we abandon
the spiritual reality of who we are
and make deals with life
that get us through, moment to moment.

Even so, we are meant I know, for more-
meant to give more to others and to ourselves.
In our business dealings,  just Work does not work.

The fun, the pleasure, the sense of creation,
and camaraderie of work are at best
a recreation of ourselves on a daily basis.

We cannot sustain ourselves
and others around us with less.
It is what we must cultivate to become or to stay
an organization able to exist in and deal with the future.

We can look back at where we have been for knowledge,
but the only ultimately viable perspective on our work
must be what we will become – what we can create together
standing on common ground, on higher ground –
“At play in the fields of the Lord.” 
                                                              ~By G. Mahan

 

From time to time I recall this poem and I searched my archives to re-read it. This week, my thoughts kept bringing this poem to mind, so I thought I would share it with you as it holds great meaning for me. The poem was written years ago by one of our former employees.

Shared by Liz Sorensen Wessel

Mandala Art by Liz

Winter Bird Upon My Sill

A little bird, with plumage brown,      
Beside my window flutters down,      
A moment chirps its little strain,      
Ten taps upon my window-pane,      
And chirps again, and hops along,     
To call my notice to its song;      
But I work on, nor heed its lay,     
Till, in neglect, it flies away.      

 
So birds of peace and hope and love     
Come fluttering earthward from above,     
To settle on life's window-sills,      
And ease our load of earthly ills;     
But we, in traffic's rush and din     
Too deep engaged to let them in,      
With deadened heart and sense plod on,      
Nor know our loss till they are gone

By Lawrence Dunbar, The Sparrow (1896) 

Terry Chapman shared this little poem and it reminded me of the picture I had drawn that seemed to be the perfect accompaniment. Looking at this little bird perched on the windowsill it seems as though it would like to come in out of the cold or is hoping for a few crusts of bread. Will the person who dwells there notice? Will they offer warmth and shelter or has their heart frozen from within? Or will they be too busy to take notice or to care? 

This poem offers a poignant message.  In the day to day, I can see myself overworking or getting caught up in the rush from time to time. Strangely there is a part of me that thinks I have all the time in the world and that life will wait for me. Yet, our lives can change with a blink of an eye when lightning strikes, be a natural disaster, an accident, political chaos, or an unexpected test result; something that shakes us to the core. 

Suddenly, we awaken to the reality of impermanence in our lives and how precious the gift we have received. I've heard it said that we ought to live each day as if it was our last. I believe it to be true, I know this but I can easily fall into the stupor of forgetfulness.

So when a dark night arrives, in the midst of it all a silvery light finds its way in. I prefer to believe that this little bird has come as a sign of hospefulness. Our hearts know that just beyond the chilly cold of winter, spring will surely come and with her comes the promise of new life.  

Perhaps, as gift of remembering, of our hearts thawing and coming alive to live fully in this moment, listening to bird song and opening our hearts to what may arrive on our windowsill. 

Liz Sorensen Wessel