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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Day 119 – Guardian Angels & the Love Effect

April 28, 2008

"I knew if I were drowning you’d try to save me. And you see, you did, and that’s how I saved you." – Clarence, George’s Guardian Angel in It’s a Wonderful Life, by Frances Goodrich, Albert Hackett & Frank Capra

We like to think of our guardian angel (if we think of them at all) as protecting us from danger. In "It’s a Wonderful Life," Clarence the Guardian Angel Second Class (left)actually places himself in danger to give George a reason not to commit suicide. Instead of jumping off the bridge to drown himself, as he had been planning, George jumps in to save his suddenly materialized angel.
In this way, those we love and care for save us…

For what is the meaning of our lives if we have no one to live for but ourselves?
This is a great and surprising gift of The Love Effect. Beyond ourselves, we find meaning in the gifts of the lives of others. If our lives are rich, we have many people we would jump off a bridge to save.

As you know from the great Capra movie, George’s Guardian Angel gives George back his life by showing him all the things that would NOT have happened if he had never been born. It is remarkable to think of the ways in which our lives have helped others.
Somewhat like the famous "Butterfly Effect," each time an act of kindness issues from us, The Love Effect ripples like a warm breeze through the lives of others. It then returns to us with a healing brush across our hearts.
During this week, let Love move through you and share with us some of the results of this "Love Effect."

-Erie Chapman

Posted in Meditations

5 responses to “Day 119 – Guardian Angels & the Love Effect”

Karen York

April 28, 2008

A simple “love effect” is to watch the faces of strangers change when greeted with a smile. I just visited one of our inpatient units housed in a local hospital where I had to walk many long corridors, passing families and hospital workers. I am always saddened at how few of them will actually look up and return my greeting. Yet, the ones that do, it seems to help them feel a little lighter for the moment, and definitely makes my day as well. Perhaps the ones that don’t are lost in some kind of grief over what is happening in their lives at the moment and can’t acknowledge. I believe love’s effect reaches them in some way so I continue to be the bearer of love’s kindness.

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Victoria Facey

April 28, 2008

Catherine Chechitelli is a Guardian Angel. While in my first weeks on the job, I was given a task to perform that was more technical (to me) than I first thought. While running out of time and in despair, I reached out to her for advice and help. We didn’t know each other well and hadn’t met, but Catherine responded to me as we’d been working together for years. She even offered to take on the project to help me meet the deadline. I never forgot her kindness and support when she stepped up to be there for me. This was a picture of one of my first Sacred Encounters at St. Joseph.
Since then, I’ve gotten to know Catherine and I relish her friendship and support. Regardless of her workload (in person or on the phone) Catherine remains graceful, supportive, knowledgeable, and is an incredible resource, when called upon.
I recognize the “Butterfly Effect” in Catherine’s acts of kindness and hope they reverberate through me on to those I can give support to.

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~liz Wessel

April 28, 2008

When I think of guardian angels I feel very blessed because there are so many people who offer me kindness and support. There is one special person at work who stands out because she believes in me. She sees something good and nurtures it. Often I feel stretched, yet supported, admired, and best yet, Loved!

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Lorilee Amlie

April 28, 2008

I loved these 2 sentences “The Love Effect ripples like a warm breeze through the lives of others. It then returns to us with a healing brush across our hearts”. What a great way to think about love and loving others. What I think right at this moment about guardian angels is a sign I purchased for my daughter when she was about to start driving 4 years ago “Never drive faster than your guardian angel can fly”.

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Barbara Scott

April 29, 2008

Love is present everyday but do we notice it? Do we take time to share love with someone by our actions? I love how everyone in this movie dropped everything to help someone they knew was in need. They where like guardian angels.
Life should never get so desperate that the only way out is suicide. There are guardian angels here on earth and in heaven to help and support us if we would just open ourselves to others and not consume ourselves with our problems.

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