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.

Recent Posts

About

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.

Day 345 – December Meditation

Today's saying: Grace is letting go of anger that is justified and offering forgiveness that is not. (author unknown.)

[The following reflection was written by Karen York, Executive Vice President of Nashville-based Alive Hospice.]

December – The year nearly gone, holiday cheer in full
swing.

I’m making plans already for engagements in

March, April, May

I plan my life down to the moment, the second. Planning,

preparing for what – to enjoy the now? 

I know of people who schedule elaborate vacations,

then can’t wait to get home.

What about making the vacation

while in the middle of now?

 

I plan, plan, plan, – yet still no time

for me

for you

for us.

 

Yet there is time.

It’s right here in my center, right where it belongs.

And I can’t find it.

Hidden beneath calendars, and deadlines and

plans, it remains there until I stop.

Stop. 

 

We don’t honor quiet.

We don’t honor stillness.

We must fill the “empty” space with noise.

So we talk, talk, talk without saying anything.

We jabber on and the truth remains hidden.

 

What is that truth? What secrets rest there

beneath the hard shells and scars from past hurts

and future worry? Who am
I in that secret,

quiet space where I am afraid to enter? 

 

I’ll go there now and reacquaint myself with the

me who is lost in the shuffle. 

May will be here soon enough.  

 

Today is here. Today is now.

Today is mine.

 

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3 responses to “Day 345 – December Meditation”

  1. ~liz Wessel Avatar
    ~liz Wessel

    Karen,
    I believe your meditation comes at just the right time for so many of us. Your thoughts are a beautiful and a welcomed gift. Work has been busy for me with multiple priorities and juggling demands amid time pressures. There is always more to do, than there is time or resources, finding a balance in all of it, now that is quite a challenge. All the hustle and bustle of the holidays, I have not entered into to the frenzy of Christmas shopping this year and instead have been enjoying spending more quiet w/e time at home. I am grateful for your sharing from your heart and I receive these insights as an invitation to reacquaint myself with my here and my now and accepting the gifts life as to offer, just as is.
    Wishing you, and all, many peace-filled days, discovered in being present right here, right now. Thank you Karen.

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  2. ~liz Wessel Avatar
    ~liz Wessel

    My friend Victoria just asked, “How are you this morning?” I shared, the last few mornings when I have meditated feelings of grief and loss that must be lying just beneath my awareness have surfaced. I think experiencing these feelings is good and necessary in my own quiet private time. It is so easy to get caught up in to the day to day and not feel but when this occurs I seem estranged from myself. Then I recalled your reflection Karen, about the need to find our center and to be with what is.
    In the meantime Victoria ran down to her car and brought up a CD by India Arie and shared the gift of music and these blessed words with me, “It doesn’t cost a thing to smile, there’s hope.” Amen 🙂

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  3. Victoria Facey Avatar
    Victoria Facey

    Karen, after feeling overwhelmed all day, I was happy to read your reflection. We give up our small moments to get so much done and at the end of the day, we’re spent.
    Thank you for reminding about my center; I’ve got to get to it soon…

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