Journal of Sacred Work

"For what is beauty, if it does not fire the loving answer of an eager soul?" – Robert Bridges

   An experienced nurse leader I know (a veteran of countless emergencies) suddenly found herself in the middle of one as a patient. One cold night, Debbie's body was suddenly attacked by a vicious illness she did not understand. She had chest pain, trouble breathing, and a massive headache which she could only describe as "worse than a migraine."

   Was it a heart attack? A respiratory arrest? An impending stroke? In spite of all her training, Debbie could not diagnose herself.

   Her husband rushed her to a large hospital emergency department, ran in, and called out "my wife is a nurse and she thinks she's dying. She can't get out of the car. Please help!"

   An ER nurse grabbed a wheelchair and headed toward the door. "Stop!" a supervisor shouted, "You know the rule. No wheelchairs outside the door."

   The husband pointed to his car twenty feet away and shouted, "But my wife is right there. Please help her."

   The nurse pushing the wheelchair said, "I don't care what the rules are. I'm going to help that woman." And she did.

   Unfortunately, this story is true. The supervising nurse cited the rules. The other caregiver listened to Love's call and helped a fellow child of God in distress. She gave "the loving answer of an eager soul."

   Beauty has its own morality. God's Love has its own rules. Sometimes the rules of the world work. Sometimes they fail. Whatever the question, Love is the answer. If we live that answer, God and humanity will always be served.

-Rev. Erie Chapman