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.

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.

About

Days 239-241 – The Real Legacy

August 28, 2009

On a sunny summer day in 1967, I encountered a cheerful young Senator as he spoke to other young people who were working, as I was then, on Capitol Hill. My most enduring memory of him was not his speech, which included a stirring appeal for universal health care, but how happy and carefree he seemed.

He was only 36 years old then. The world lay before him and it must have looked like his oyster. I saw him as he waved good luck to a few of us outside the Capitol and then watched as he climbed into his green Chevrolet and drove off.

As we all know, Teddy Kennedy had money, good looks a great name, and many talents. Back then, the traits of his that were most underestimated were his remarkable skill and endurance as a legislator and his passionate commitment to one big issue: health care.

With all that has been written and spoken the last few days about the late Senator there is one particular way to honor him that exceeds all others. Teddy said often and eloquently that universal health care was "the cause of my life."

If our country's leaders really honor the Senator as much as they say they do, a majority of them will see to it that the poor and under-insured will finally receive what Kennedy said was a right, not a privilege: quality health care.

Can you think of a better way to honor this last of the Kennedy brothers than that?

-Erie Chapman

Posted in Health Care

8 responses to “Days 239-241 – The Real Legacy”

Diana Gallaher

August 28, 2009

I can think of no better way to honor Ted Kennedy.
A Catholic priest told me once, “This world breaks your heart. Until it breaks your heart you are living just for yourself. After it breaks your heart, you live for others.”
I’ve been thinking about this a lot this week with Sen. Kennedy’s death.

LikeLike

Reply
~liz Wessel

August 28, 2009

Erie, I am grateful that you have chosen to honor Senator Kennedy and all his life time of good works in service to our country. How wonderful it would be to realize his dream of universal healthcare for all Americans. I pray that healthcare reform becomes a reality. Diana, thank you for sharing this meaningful message. I am hopeful that today’s open forum will serve a greater purpose for thoughtful reflection that will translate into action.

LikeLike

Reply
victoria Facey

August 28, 2009

Ted Kennedy had a life surrounded by controversy, including the Chappaquiddick incident. However, during his political career, he excelled in representing causes and populations that sorely needed a spokesperson. In addition to his more than forty year commitment to healthcare reform, noteworthy Kennedy projects were 1) the Voting Rights Act, which he co-sponsored, 2) his involvement in the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 3) The Americans with Disabilities Act, 4) the Family and Medical Leave Act, 5) the SCHIP program to assist uninsured children, and 6) the “No Child Left Behind Act”.
I plan to support the healthcare reform issue and hope that others will join me.

LikeLike

Reply
~liz Wessel

August 28, 2009

When Irish Eyes Are Smiling
There’s a tear in your eye,
And I’m wondering why,
For it never should be there at all.
With such pow’r in your smile,
Sure a stone you’d beguile,
So there’s never a teardrop should fall.
When your sweet lilting laughter’s
Like some fairy song,
And your eyes twinkle bright as can be;
You should laugh all the while
And all other times smile,
And now, smile a smile for me.
When Irish eyes are smiling,
Sure, ’tis like the morn in Spring.
In the lilt of Irish laughter
You can hear the angels sing.
When Irish hearts are happy,
All the world seems bright and gay.
And when Irish eyes are smiling,
Sure, they steal your heart away.
For your smile is a part
Of the love in your heart,
And it makes even sunshine more bright.
Like the linnet’s sweet song,
Crooning all the day long,
Comes your laughter and light.
For the springtime of life
Is the sweetest of all
There is ne’er a real care or regret;
And while springtime is ours
Throughout all of youth’s hours,
Let us smile each chance we get.
When Irish eyes are smiling,
Sure, ’tis like the morn in Spring.
In the lilt of Irish laughter
You can hear the angels sing.
When Irish hearts are happy,
All the world seems bright and gay.
And when Irish eyes are smiling,
Sure, they steal your heart away.
The lyrics to When Irish Eyes Are Smiling were written by Chauncey Olcott and George Graff, Jr. and set to the music of Enerst Ball for Olcott’s production of The Isle O’ Dreams. The music was published in 1912.

LikeLike

Reply
Diana Gallaher

August 28, 2009

🙂

LikeLike

Reply
Julie Laverdiere

August 29, 2009

My children have asked me how I felt about Kennedy’s passing. I recall all the troubles he had, and knew he had been able to go beyond all of that somehow. My father didn’t like him at all, so I really never paid attention to him. Then I watched a program about him. He truly transformed himself from an immature young man to a leader of a cause we hold so dear. I plan on writing a few letters to our congressmen, asking for them to work at bipartisionship. It is the only way this will get done. And, that is the legacy that Mr. Kennedy left us. God bless him.

LikeLike

Reply
~liz Wessel

August 30, 2009

Two friends who read your essay shared thoughts of Ted Kennedy via e-mail. I am taking the liberty to post their thoughtful reflections, anonymously.
“A truly remarkable man, quite possibly the greatest US senator ever! His compassion and courage made this world a better place and gave us all not just someone to admire but the belief that we too could be better by following his example.”
“A person who could stand in his truth, the truth of his past, and yet envision what could be done to serve the marginalized, the poor, and those who did not have a voice. Senator Kennedy possessed the gift of working with the whole senate to accomplish his goals–a true representative of the people and for the people.”

LikeLike

Reply
Carolyn Olney

August 30, 2009

I watched several programs after Sen. Ted Kennedy died. Even though I had been very familiar with much of the legislation that he had worked for, I did not know that he had also helped to author the following legislation: Meals on Wheels, Head Start, COBRA (healthcare coverage for the unemployed), Equal Rights Amendment, and Title 9 (helping women have full participation in things like college sports).
In the late 80’s I was at the Capitol lobbying for anti-hunger programs like food stamps and child nutrition program funding. We heard that Sen. Kennedy was going to yet again reintroduce a minimum wage bill. I had the feeling it might have seemed like a lost cause, because of the make up of the House and Senate. But he perservered. It was one of my best memories of being in Washington.
It was particularly touching when his son shared that he had a bipolar condition, and that he and his father had put forward the very significant Mental Health Parity bill.
I heard that he had said something like “why not get 60% of what you want in legislation, rather than nothing”. If only we had someone in Congress who could broker a deal that would give us at least 60% of healthcare reform. It would be better than nothing this year.
I think the most important thing I learned about Kennedy this weekend was huge impact he had on thousands of people, just by his acts of kindness and consideration. His family, his faith, and his personal history shaped him into someone who made our country a better place for all of us.

LikeLike

Reply