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 262 – When Peace Matters

   In a gorgeous and unique film called Silent Light ( Stellet Licht, 2007) the female lead, Marianne, weighed down by her mate's infidelity, says something startling: "Peace is better than love," she tells her husband. 

   Immediately, I wondered: Doesn't peace flow from love? Aren't they the inextricably linked? 

Silent_light  

   In the context of the film, I discovered that when Marianne speaks of love, she means the romantic kind. We all know what a fragile thing romance can be, sometimes ranging from the heights of euphoria to the agony of betrayal. 

   God's Love does not possess. Therefore, Love does not know betrayal or fear. Inside Love, we can always find peace if we can let our fear fall away. In that inner stillness, the door opens and Love's light arrives.

   The noise of the day makes caregivers yearn for quiet. Yet, quiet and peace are not the same. Lists and obligations may assault any period of silence, bringing more cacaphony than serenity.

   Peace is a gift that lives within us all the time. We may discover it emerge from the woods as we listen to the rhythm of our breathing or practice yoga meditation or pray. Once discovered, we may learn how to drink from this inner well of peace amid times when anxiety threatens.

   The grace of peace is something we all observe in gifted people. Each of us knows someone who maintains that precious sense of calm across days and nights. At best, I see this in one out of ten nurses. When seen, it is a special joy. And every one of us has it resting deep within, perhaps obscured by the many masks we wear. 
 
   When does peace matter? Perhaps, the answer is: all the time. 

   How do you experience peace in your life? What is it that helps you find this peace.?

-Erie Chapman
   
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3 responses to “Day 262 – When Peace Matters”

  1. Karen York Avatar
    Karen York

    Peace comes from resting in the wisdom of love. You said it when we let fear fall away, there is peace. It’s letting go of any idea of control over circumstances or someone else’s opinion. We fight so hard to change everything and everyone. Just let it be… Not that I’m a master at this.

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  2. ~liz Wessel Avatar
    ~liz Wessel

    I have not had an opportunity to see this film, although I did try to rent it at the video store… one of these days.
    I really admire the Ancient Greeks who recognized four distinct words and meaning for love:
    • Agape: selfless love of one person for another that is unconditional and spiritual in nature.
    • Eros: is passionate love, with sensual desire and longing, romantic love, and helps the soul recall knowledge of beauty.
    • Philia: Freindship-includes loyalty to friends, family, and community, and requires virtue, equality and familiarity.
    • Storgē: Affection- is fondness through familiarity, especially between family members, natural, emotive, and widely diffused of loves: natural in that it is present without coercion is able to transcend most discriminating factors.
    I think Agape Love is the love you speak of and I believe that when we are not at peace it is because we are not feeling connected to our heart center and what is needed a change of heart or a turning around so to speak. I wish to share this wonderful passage from the Rosaries of Divine Union, by Father Michael Adams
    Thoughts
    “In the Gospels are several stories of Christ bringing someone back from the dead. Yet today many people live each day dead: dead to the life inside of themselves, dead to the life present in all of creation, and dead to the feelings of their own hearts. Life flows from our connectedness to the deepest expression of God within ourselves and in all things—from the grass to the rocks to the light of the sun and the blue of the sky. To be dead is to be unaware of this constantly flowing, constantly abundant heritage that is ours for the claiming. We get it by giving of ourselves so totally that there is nothing left to block its flow. We give of ourselves in surrender, compassion and love and what we get in return is life. The Love of the Divine can raise the dead to life if we but ask.”
    For me, the peace you describe can be tapped into through spiritual discipline. It is not easily achieved unless we set the right conditions and are attuned, meditation, prayer help me move towards balance it is a continuous process.
    I think Love offers is a simple way of being, that is close to the ground,or grounded,and notice the ache in our heart, and focus on what matters. So that we are aware and giving, sharing and receiving of love with those around us.

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  3. Diana Gallaher Avatar
    Diana Gallaher

    At a core level, I believe, know even “All will be well” as Julian of Norwich said. But at the day to day, peace is often elusive. I agree with both Karen and Liz – it takes recognizing and letting go of fear, attempting to control and it takes spiritual discipline of resting in love to cultivate the peace that passeth all understanding.

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