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 277 – Sustaining Compassion

October 6, 2009

I sat in a peace circle recently with a group of six people who serve as CEO's of Nashville charities. As the "talking piece" (a hawk feather) passed from hand to hand it came to rest amid on the worn fingers of one of the most esteemed senior members of the non-profit community.

"It's amazing to me how the homeless people in our area survive at all," he said. "I look into their eyes every day and I can see the tragedy they have experienced…"

With that, his own eyes filled with tears and he could not continue, quickly passing the feather to the next person. For decades, this man has been overseeing one of Nashville's most successful efforts to provide transition housing for the poor. He has heard their sorrows and he has helped them regain their balance in this hard life.

Isn't he sick of it all? Doesn't he find the stories of trouble tiresome after all these years?

The answer is "no." I am sure he is tired and often heartbroken. But, his answer to need is a soft and continuous and life-affirming "yes."

Through all of the hard trouble he has seen, this strong and kind man has never lost his love fo those in need because he always sees every client as a person, never as a number.

How do your sustain your compassion day after day?

-Erie Chapman

Posted in Meditations

7 responses to “Day 277 – Sustaining Compassion”

~liz Wessel

October 6, 2009

What an honor to be with one such as he and how life affirming to know that this man, you, and others of like heart, grace our world. Although caregivers confront illness daily it is important to remember that the person and their family are in crisis, frightened and often floundering in a vast, turbulent sea. I find there is much we can do much to make it safe for people because we know the ropes, know how to maneuver the choppy waves of complex authorization processes and fragmented health care systems to get people what they need, when they need it. Sadly, it often requires extraordinary means, jumping hurdles, and advocating to remove barriers to care at every turn. Communication breakdowns are commonplace resulting in care breakdowns as well. Caregivers are at risk of falling into a state of complacency where mediocrity becomes a norm.
The spiritual truth you offer is so key and highly motivating, when we see a hurting person as our family; compassion connects us heart-to-heart and carries us forward on the wings of Love.

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George Tracy Roberts

October 6, 2009

I stumble at sustaining my compassion day after day. What helps is to be in Circle with caregivers who tell stories such as the one you mentioned. I also lay in to my belief that there is something “greater” present when I am in relationship with others or walking alone in nature. This other, this something greater, this mystery, sustains me and humbles me into calling out my soul to lead my life.

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openid.aol.com/vff27

October 6, 2009

How sad to hear this story; I don’t know if I could continue to push forward in an area that continues to slide back, such as caring for the homeless. I think the faces and numbers are growing; and we don’t see a solution in the near future.
But compassion is the key to supporting these efforts and in caring for those in need, when others will not.

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Karen York

October 6, 2009

Sustaining it is looking for and finding god/love in everything, everyday. A great song has the words – “what if god was one of us? Just a slob like one of us? Just a stranger on the bus trying to make his way home…” We don’t want to look into the eyes of someone so desperately in need for fear we see ourselves looking back. Praise to this special caregiver you describe and to the myriad people everyday who look beyond their own needs into the eyes of love.

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Erie Chapman

October 6, 2009

Karen
Your comment about how we are afraid to look “into the eyes of someone …for fear we will see ourselves looking back” is an astonishing and powerful insight.
Thank you

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ann kaiser

October 6, 2009

In my times of serving the homeless…I will never forget the man I was helping find some clothing for the cold week ahead from the meager selection from the boxes of donated items. He picked one item..I took his hand and looked into his eyes..they were timid and looked down..I spoke to him about letting me pick some more out for him because I wanted him to be warm….he gazed into my eyes and just simply said “thankyou for taking the time to really look at me..most people look away…. ….you made me feel good tonight.”….some days there are so many people in need that cross out paths that we almost think how can I ever make a difference..it is as simple as the star fish story…the star fish that have washed up on the shore and the little boy that walked the shore line and threw each one back into the ocean .. one at a time…when asked why he was bothering because there are so many..he simply answered while throwing one back….” because it matters to this one”. We are all connected to one another. We must serve with the compassion our Lord gave us…something so simple can be life changing for another whose life has not felt compassion lately.

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Marianna

November 6, 2009

The way I continue to have compassion after all these years of being a caregiver is….always looking at the patient as he/she was my closest family member. This is what has worked for me.
p.s. Thank you for the posting

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