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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Days 44-45 – Life’s Inconveniences

February 13, 2010

"The great thing is, if one can, to stop regarding all the unpleasant things as interruptions in one’s "own" or "real" life. The truth is, of course, that what one regards as interruptions are precisely one’s life." ~C.S. Lewis

“When that small inner voice calls to us, it is never convenient, is it?” asked Father Peter Hickman during his Sunday morning homily. I thought to myself, how true… and how easy it is to get caught up in the routines of the day. Inconveniences can feel burdensome rather than as a joyful opportunity to serve. I notice that the more tasks I juggle the less receptive I am to life’s interruptions and the more likely I am to resist Love' call to action.

Resistance depletes energy, separates, and can cut us off from our heart's center. Resistance can weigh me down with stories of worry that I tell myself. To be honest, this describes how I experienced my stressful week. Yet, if I can take a step back to notice my patterned thinking, I am more likely to move beyond resistance. Chöyam Trungpa author of the book, The Sacred Path of the Warrior, welcomes inconveniences because he views them as a catalyst to awaken us from our slumber. He offers the analogy of a person riding a horse. If we hit a bump on the trail that disrupts our equilibrium, we must right ourselves to regain balance or risk falling from the horse. In this way, a sudden whoa…shifts our consciousness in heightened awareness resulting in renewed perspective.

In times of stress, I sometimes have to remind myself to breathe! I find it helpful to breathe deeply in simple awareness. Our breath is an unconditional, life-giving gift that ebbs and flows in and out of our body and opens us up to Divine Grace. By focusing on this mutual giving and receiving, of taking in and of letting go, we can reconnect to our heart.

A call for help from someone in need may interrupt seemingly important tasks. We rush around with our agendas, great plans, and set priorities. Yet, if we pay attention, receptivity invites Love's healing to manifest in our midst. When we see with sacred eyes we go beyond the surface to the heart of what matters. For caregivers, this means a willingness to stop and let go of distractions to greet life as our unexpected guest with hospitality. We will find her interruptions inconvenient, unpredictable, and a bit messy as she pulls us out of our comfort zone.

Today, when life interrupts, will we resist or respond with Love?

~Liz Wessel

“You can change your life by changing your heart.” ~ Max Lucado

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9 responses to “Days 44-45 – Life’s Inconveniences”

bill gayle

February 13, 2010

Liz, We all need to be re-calibrated at times; thank you.

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Woody Wessel

February 13, 2010

It’s the inconveniences, the bumps in the road,
the horse manure that life throws at you that also makes the roses in your life grow.

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Maureen McDermott

February 13, 2010

How true, Liz. For myself, the gift that the interruption has been to me seems to come in my reflection on the experience – in that space when I appreciate the invitation from Love to pause and see a little differently – or to move myelf out of the way so there is time for others. May our interruptions take each of us more deeply into who we are called to be – our true self.

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~liz Wessel

February 14, 2010

Thank you Bill, Woody and Sr. Maureen for your thoughtful comments!
An excerpt of a poem
written by Andrea Gibson
Say Yes
this is for the possibility that guides us
and for the possibilities still waiting to sing
and spread their wings inside us
cause tonight Saturn is on his knees
proposing with all of his ten thousand rings
that whatever song we’ve been singing we sing even more
the world needs us right now more than it ever has before
pull all your strings
play every chord
if you’re writing letters to the prisoners
start tearing down the bars
if you’re handing our flashlights in the dark
start handing our stars
never go a second hushing the percussion of your heart
play loud
play like you know the clouds have left too many people cold and broken
and you’re their last chance for sun
play like there’s no time for hoping brighter days will come
play like the apocalypse is only 4…3…2
but you have a drum in your chest that could save us
you have a song like a breath that could raise us
like the sunrise into a dark sky that cries to be blue
play like you know we won’t survive if you don’t
but we will if you do
play like Saturn is on his knees
proposing with all of his ten thousand rings
that we give every single breath
this is for saying-yes
this is for saying-yes
This is for all the Lover’s of this world, Happy Valentines Day!
With Love,
~liz

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Karen York

February 15, 2010

Thank you Liz. Your reflection is most welcomed and needed.

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ann kaiser

February 15, 2010

We have to remember that God brings us the moments, every one of them. Every moment is created for us for a reason, even the interruptions! I shall remember to embrace those with Love, for those moments are created for me, to be my life. Thank you Liz for sharing with us .

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Victoria Facey

February 16, 2010

What a lesson so beautifully taught. The analogy reminds me of how much I’ve wanted to ride a bicycle I asked my husband for some years ago. My fear is that I will fall and get injured. However, this is going to be the very thing I need to stay alert and truly learn from. If only I could get the nerve to take it down, brush off the cobwebs and begin the lessons.
And the interruptions part, you have no idea how deeply this subject has touched me. Yes, we have our planned agendas and focus on the work at hand. But caring is a lovely light that shines when one is there for another. And, oh how I lean into that warming light. This caring and extending one’s self is also a reflection of God’s love. There are days when I am needy, too and I appreciate those who make interruptions for me. It is this gift that can not be bought and is pure and kind and given with love.
Thank you Liz for bringing this gift to me…

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Marily Paco Tronco

February 16, 2010

Loving and caring sustains energy, life in us. And that’s what we do as caregivers. But there are times after a day’s work, that I feel worn out. Your sharing made me realize, it can be change. Perhaps it is not just enough to keep my cool during super stressful hours at work, but also to have a welcoming mind and heart for life’s inconveniences. Each distraction or interruption no longer a resistant factor that would affect the completion of my job on time or free overtime but now considered “friend”. It is my life, blessed and provided.

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Louise Jones

February 16, 2010

While I am very good at this at work, I am horrible at this in my personal life. I actually have a lot of patience and have a lot of tolerance for interruptions and “wrenches” thrown into my workday. But at home, if all does not go as planned, I don’t handle it with grace by any means. I don’t know if it’s because I get paid at work for my services or because my loved ones are “stuck” with me because they can’t fire me. But, it’s the people we live that should get the best of my patience and understanding.

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