Journal of Sacred Work

   In his landmark 1992 book, Care of the Soul, Thomas Moore (left) writes: "The soul presents itself in a variety of colors, including all the shades of gray, blue, and black. To care for the soul, we must observe the full range of its colorings, and resist the temptation to approve only of white, red, and orange – the brilliant colors."
   Our American society sends us incessant messages on how to avoid the "dreaded" world of gray, blue and black. Endless commercials offer us relief from pain, protection from depression, and treatment for anything that might make us the least bit uncomfortable. As we pursue the temporary relief offered by these messages, we may weaken our internal strength to deal with trouble. And we may experience a narrow spectrum of life’s colors…

    Although I hate the experience of it, pain is an eloquent teacher. Although I don’t, of course, enjoy violence and blatant sexuality as presented in movies, documentaries and books, I know they can be an essential part of great literature. This is because the truth, as well as the soul, requires that we recognize gray, blue and black as essential parts of the color spectrum. To ignore them is to live a lie.
   Over the past seven years since it was made, hundreds of hospitals have embraced truth in a film we made at Baptist Hospital in the year 2000-01 called Sacred Work. It’s not a "pretty" film, but it is an inspiring one. That is because it is true.
   Frankly, I doubt we could have gotten this film made if I had not been president of the hospital at that time because the making of the film required lots of access into the organization. Have you seen the typical hospital video? Most often, those fake-feeling films are filled with lies. They either present a happy picture of hospital life that everyone knows is false or they offer a boring recital of information as a "teaching tool." Decision-making executives, consumed with the idea that people must only see the bright colors of the spectrum, consistently censor any images that reveal the truth in gray, blue
and black.
   Our souls seek truth. The soul also seeks balance. Accordingly, life in the hospital is not all gray, blue and black either. And a true picture will include the bright colors of joy.
   The life of the healthy soul recognizes the full spectrum of emotion that is life and embraces all of it with courage. The darkest colors of our life have their own poetry and their own unique ability to help us appreciate that mysterious universe we call our souls.
   As you travel through the middle of this week, please share with us your reflections on the shades of color you see in your life and in your soul – the gray, blue and black as well as the bright orange and yellow.

-Erie Chapman