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 134 – Spring Flowers of Love

May 13, 2008

Flowers appear as great gifts. Their beauty is freely available to anyone whose heart is open.
These flowers happen to live in our backyard. But millions thrive everywhere that the climate and love will nurture them. Each flower, like every example of beauty in the world, is a reflection of the divine that lives in each one of us. I hope you will listen, for a moment in this day, to the music of each of these lovely beings.
To see more clearly, click on each image….

Flowers have their own intelligence. They know about light. They understand aroma. They know the texture of their skin. They breathe as naturally as do we.

This trio (these are called "Knockout Roses") leaps from their field of green, changing the background around them to black and white.

The word we use is "purple." This iris, lying against a bed of basil, speaks her own shade.

Flower don’t sing perfection for long. In days, the sun may burn their edges turning their skin to smoke.

-Erie Chapman

Posted in Meditations

7 responses to “Day 134 – Spring Flowers of Love”

Karen York

May 13, 2008

Thank you for this bouquet this morning. Last week I crawled around the grounds of Alive Hospice camera in hand to capture the closeup beauty of the flowers here. So much to be learned in the center of each one. So much we miss when we pass by with our arms full of papers and telephones. Stop today and enjoy each one.

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Diana Gallaher

May 13, 2008

These photographs reflect a heart that is open. Thank you for this gift to us.

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~liz Wessel

May 13, 2008

Thank you for sharing Love’s gifts!
My backyard is replete with vibrant colors of red, magenta, and pink geraniums amid silvery sprays of dusty millers. Leafy vines with delicate lavender flora slowly wind their way to envelop the garden wall. Grandma’s pink and white Easter lilies express the beautiful mystery of resurrection. A lone plant grows under the canopy of a large shade tree. Year after year, she lacked the needed sunshine and could only whisper Love’s longing. This spring, her spine has grown straight and tall reaching towards the sun she has blossomed into Love’s potential; a single majestic red rose.

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Yvonne Ginez-Gonzales

May 13, 2008

Todays posting reminds me of an occurance on Mother’s day that just passed. I remember walking into the local florist to buy some flowers for my mother-in-law and feeling overwhelmed by the huge number bouquets of flowers. At first I didn’t know what to get her and after a few minutes of looking lost and confused until a lady from that department came over and inquired if I needed any help. Not only did I learn a little bit about about flowers and their meanings but I also had the opportunity to meet someone who was very nice and who took time help me (very caring – that touched my heart even though we were strangers – she listened). I found myself drawn to these tiny bell-like white flowers. She shared with me that they have a meaning of sweetness and happiness. I found that this was perfect as I felt that my mother-in-law has brought our family happiness and is very sweet to my children. With todays posting I took the opportunity to research this beautiful flower and I share that with you. I believe that on that day the women that helped me was in the right profession as her heart was open as the flowers around her.
LILY OF THE VALLEY: Return of happiness, purity of heart, sweetness, tears of the Virgin Mary, you’ve made my life complete, humility, happiness. The legend of the lily of the valley is that it sprang from Eve’s tears when she was kicked out of the Garden of Eden. It is also believed that this flower protects gardens from evil spirits. Also known as the flower of May.

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melissa scott

May 13, 2008

even among thorns the rose basks in the light ,showing her radiance of which the light created.

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Lorilee Amlie

May 13, 2008

One other thing I love about flowers is how they look with water drops on their petals. They are so beautiful as they are drinking in their life’s blood.

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Yvonne Ginez-Gonzales

May 13, 2008

Today I found myself walking around the library to get to the bookstore instead of taking the shortcut through the library. Because outside along the north side of the library there are bunches and bunches of white honeysuckle flowers. I don’t believe I would have been very aware of this beautiful living gift if I had not read this mornings posting by Erie. Each flower was giving off its own natural fragrance into the air to share with anyone who chose to pass by; purposeful or not. It was a nice walk. I love Spring!!!

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