Journal of Sacred Work

Caregivers have superpowers! Radical Loving Care illuminates the divine truth that caregiving is not just a job. It is Sacred Work.

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Former President & CEO of multiple hospital systems and founding president & CEO of 20-hospital OhioHealth, best selling author, film artist, ordained minister, composer, published poet, syndicated T.V. host, trial attorney, federal prosecutor and Municipal Court Judge. Erie is internationally known as the founder of the Radical Loving Care(R)movement. He also heads Erie Chapman Foundation, Dane Dakota Productions, LLC, and Chapman Health International, Inc.

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Days 35 & 36 – The Heart’s Affections

February 4, 2008

I am certain of nothing but the holiness of the heart’s affections, and the truth of imagination. – John Keats (in painting at left; 1795-1821)

When you hear a Keats’ quote lfrom a physician, you know you have encountered a caregiver with a true Servant’s Heart. Whenever I visit Dr. Keith Hagan, whether as his patient, as a friend, or as a fellow board member, I am always struck by the holiness of his heart’s affections and the intensity of his compassion. How many doctors do you know who hand you a page of poetry along with your prescription? …

In a couple of weeks, Dr. Hagan will leave his busy Nashville practice to
travel to Ecuador on another of the many mission trips he takes. For
Dr. Hagan, "vacation" simply means continuing to serve others. So he will enter the clinic in Ecuador that has been named in his honor and he will do much more than simply help heal people’s physical problems. Compassionate caregivers always do more than "fix things."
Dr. Hagan will look into the eyes of his poverty-stricken Ecuadoran patients and bring to them all the skill and the Love he can summon. This stranger will treat his patients with a respect beyond what they may have ever felt. They will be fortunate to feel his healing touch and to go away with the gift of his grace.
When Dr. Hagen quoted Keats to me, it sent me looking up more of Keats’ work and his life. I have always been astonished that a man who died at age 25 could have made such gigantic contributions to the world. For example, without crediting him, some company has popularized the phrase, "A thing of beauty is a joy forever." This line wasn’t created by an ad man. Instead, the ad agency had to reach back nearly two hundred years to capture that line from John Keats. And here is Keats again: "Beauty is truth, truth beauty – that is all ye know on earth and all ye need to know."
If Keats had encountered a caregiver like Dr. Hagen, perhaps he might have lived to an old age and sent us even more truth and beauty. Meanwhile, I am glad to know a physician who cares for both truth and beauty, and who has the courage to quote poetry to his patients.

-Erie Chapman

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5 responses to “Days 35 & 36 – The Heart’s Affections”

liz Wessel

February 4, 2008

This is an extraordinary mediation of affirmation for an extraordinary physician. Ever more wondrous is the relationship that lives beyond the limitations of roles between patient and physician to that of a Loving friendship. A healthcare model does little to support cultivating this potential when office visits are rationed to five-minute intervals. It is in the realm of caring human relationships that healing can flourish.

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Lorilee Amlie

February 4, 2008

Another beautiful posting Erie. Dr Hagen sounds like a wonderful physician. Life would be amazing if all caregivers (physicians and nurses alike) cared for others with such love and compassion. Another opportunity to remind me to live love everyday!

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MFM

February 4, 2008

What a wonderful tribute. Dr. Hagen is the type of physician we all dream of having. I agree with Liz and Lorilee, Life would be amazing if we all showed each other such kindness and consideration. It is unfortunate that our healthcare system does not do more to allow for the caring human relationship to develop between a Doctor and a patient so healing can flourish. I was once lucky enough to have a Doctor like Hagen, one who took the time to show me his healing touch and heart; he never made me feel like a number in his day but someone he truly wanted to make feel better physically, mentally and spiritually. Dr. Stephen Hughes is someone I’ll never forget and someone I’ve never been able to replace. Although I admire his convictions of choosing to leave rather then making his patients a number in his day, my personal healthcare world has never been the same. I think people would be more inclined to visit their Doctor if they had the opportunity to see first hand the spirit Doctors like Hagen and Hughes provide their patients.

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Karen York

February 5, 2008

Dr. Hagan is the epitome of loving care. I am privileged to know him and benefit from his wise counsel as he is a member of our Board of Directors and Chair of our Ethics Committee. His grace and eloquence, combined with his expertise and passion bring out the best in all of us.
Thank you Erie for highlighing this amazing caregiver.

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Jan Jones

February 5, 2008

How lovely to honor Dr. Hagan who is the gentlest, humblest, most loving human being I have yet encountered. He exudes Radical Loving Care and I feel blessed to know him and benefit from his love and his gifts as a Board Member and Chair of our Ethics Committee. When I think of a model of RLC Dr. Hagan’s face appears.

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