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.

Days 25-26- The Inner Life of Caregivers

"Outwardly, my life has passed calmly and uneventfully and can be covered by a few dates." Dr. Sigmund Freud

Sigmund-freud
   Dr. Freud,(left) arguably one of the greatest minds of the last two centuries, says that his outer life passed "uneventfully." From his extensive writings, we know that Freud's inward journey must have been as remarkable and eventful as that of any great explorer who discovered new lands.

   Freud was the Columbus of the ego (he even created the word') He was the man who helped us learn to sail alongside our own dreams so that we might better understand what our subconscious might be trying to tell us. He literally tried to tell us why we do what we do.

   When Freud tells us his outer life passed calmly, he was signaling the enormous importance of our journey inward.

   First line caregivers do so many things each day that one wonders how they have time to reflect. Yet, you know how rich your own inner travels are. You are the one who understands the personal thought processes that inform your caregiving. You are the one who appreciates that it is your spiritual life that enables you to live Love in the outer world – or not. 

   In job interviews, questions typically circle on what we have done. It's hard to describe our inner thoughts on a resume.

   At funerals, our lives are so often described with a list of our accomplishments in the outer world. But, it is our inner journey that may matter most.

   God's Love lives within each of us. As we reflect on our inner journey, we may come to discover that there are three commandments of Love: The first is that we love God; the second is that we love other; the final commandment is that we love ourselves.

   As you engage your own inner journey may you know that without loving and honoring yourself, you will be unable to love God or your patients and colleagues.

   If you are wondering if it's okay to love yourself, consider the reverse. We are all created by God. If we don't love ourselves, then we are betraying the Love of our creator.

   When we truly love ourselves, we are not engaging in the indulgence of our egos. Instead, we are accepting, with humility, the gift of the life we have been given by God.

   As we our inner journey opens us to God, Love shines through us. It is God's Love that enables us to be a healing presence for patients.

-Erie Chapman

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4 responses to “Days 25-26- The Inner Life of Caregivers”

  1. ~liz Wessel Avatar
    ~liz Wessel

    As a teenager, I sought God in Christian fellowship. One answer I received I could not accept; that if a person did not know the name Christ they could not enter into the circle. I have come to appreciate that rigid interpretations are rooted in fear not Love. I knew in my core a God who was accepting of ALL. Hence, I kept my distance from organized religion for many years. Yet, looking back on my life, Love was always with me, and in difficult times gave me strength.
    The inward journey is the road I choose, there is a rhythm and intensity that waxes and wanes but I keep returning to the path.
    My favorite passage in the bible from 1 Corinthians affirms what I have always known to be true. God would never exclude anyone.
    “Brothers and sisters:
    As a body is one though it has many parts,
    and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body,
    so also Christ.
    For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body,
    whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons,
    and we were all given to drink of one Spirit.
    Now the body is not a single part, but many.
    If a foot should say,
    “Because I am not a hand I do not belong to the body, “
    it does not for this reason belong any less to the body.
    Or if an ear should say,
    “Because I am not an eye I do not belong to the body,
    “it does not for this reason belong any less to the body.
    If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be?
    If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be?
    But as it is, God placed the parts,
    each one of them, in the body as he intended.
    If they were all one part, where would the body be?
    But as it is, there are many parts, yet one body.
    The eye cannot say to the hand, “I do not need you, “
    nor again the head to the feet, “I do not need you.”
    Indeed, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker
    are all the more necessary,
    and those parts of the body that we consider less honorable
    we surround with greater honor,
    and our less presentable parts are treated with greater propriety,
    whereas our more presentable parts do not need this.
    But God has so constructed the body
    as to give greater honor to a part that is without it,
    so that there may be no division in the body,
    but that the parts may have the same concern for one another.
    If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it;
    if one part is honored, all the parts share its joy.”

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  2. Victoria Facey Avatar
    Victoria Facey

    What a beautiful statement of the Three Commandments of Love; I wish I had known them growing up. But it’s not too late!
    The older I become (God willing), I want to express more self-love and be selfish. I am certain that this will affect how I see myself, as well as others in receiving my love and support. What a concept! I know God has always loved and continues to love me and care for me, even when I wasn’t sure of those so close to me. It is His Love that has allowed me to keep my arms and heart open to others, as I move through life.
    As I aspire to be an effective caregiver, I will work on my Three Commandments…

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  3. www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1063292061 Avatar
    www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1063292061

    “The reflection on including love of self is very wise. In mothering and raising my children, this was the love I neglected, resulting in a loss of enthusiasm and energy. Experience also taught me that love of self encompasses not only spiritual renewal, but also includes friends, recreation and educational stimulation. The secret to love of self and love of the other is balancing the time and attention given to each. Sometimes life demands that more time is spent in one area, for example a sick family member. When the crisis has passed, we need to love ourselves with a time for renewal. Permeating both the love of self and the other is God holding us in His love. Our loving of self and the other is our response in love to God.”
    Doris Hand

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  4. Marie Ma Avatar
    Marie Ma

    Thank you Liz,,,for sharing your experiences with spiritual discovery as a child. I felt the same way from my religious teachings as well. I knew that my loving God had no room for exclusions in his eyes. It was difficult to share this due to fear of others thinking that I was not a ” true believer”. Thank you for the Cornithians passage as well,,It is so loving and awe-inspiring.
    If we are to be effective with caregiving,, , we need to be performing at our very best. To achieve this we must care for ourselves at all levels, ensuring that we receive the mental, physical, emotional and spiritual sustainance that we need.
    As we expend our energies, we allow ourselves time for renewal. Self care is an act of self-love and is essential to our well-being.
    We cannot short change ourselves with this process..; not only is it essential, it is one of the most enjoyable and worthwhile aspects of life that we should all partake in.
    Thank you Erie,,Love does shine through us,,and thank you for your enriching and rewarding insights here on the Journal.

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