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 50-51 How do I Greet This Day?

February 19, 2011

As some of you may be aware, my colleagues and I recently went on a pilgrimage to Guatemala. Each morning when we met for breakfast, someone would read a passage from Genesis 1. Then before setting off for the day we spent time quietly reflecting on the question, "How do I greet this day?"

We were encouraged to open our hearts and minds to see through the eyes of the people we would meet and what I saw was very beautiful. I felt as though we had traveled back in time to a simpler way of living. It seemed to me that without technology and all the accompanying distractions people were fully present to one another. It was apparent that the people of Guatemala have a true sense of community and interdependence. They are working very hard to help each other and provide a better life for their families.

It is as if when all else is stripped away, all that is left is what really matters. Although, few people have material wealth, and most live in extreme poverty, there is an overflowing generosity of spirit. Mother Nature provides a rich landscape of immeasurable beauty and an open invitation into communion with the Divine.

There is something very appealing about this down to earth way of life. I was touched by the warm hospitality we received. This awakened a longing in me for a deeper, more sacred connection and intimacy with others. The people of Guatemala taught me what it means to be in a real relationship with my brothers and sisters. May I never forget.

It can be difficult to express in words our experience so I thought I would share with you this mandala I drew and these two passages from Genesis 1 .

"In the beginning, God created heaven and earth. 2. But the earth was empty and unoccupied, and darknesses were over the face of the abyss; and so the Spirit of God was brought over the waters. 3. And God said, “Let there be light.” And light became. 4. And God saw the light, that it was good; and so he divided the light from the darknesses. 5. And he called the light, ‘Day,’ and the darknesses, ‘Night.’ And it became evening and morning, one day
Then God said: “Let there be lights in the firmament of heaven. And let them divide day from night, and let them become signs, both of the seasons, and of the days and years. 15. Let them shine in the firmament of heaven and illuminate the earth.” And so it became. 16. And God made two great lights: a greater light, to rule over the day, and a lesser light, to rule over the night, along with the stars. 17. And he set them in the firmament of heaven, to give light over all the earth, 18. and to rule over the day as well as the night, and to divide light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19. And it became evening and morning, the fourth day."

With Love,

~liz Sorensen Wessel

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10 responses to “Days 50-51 How do I Greet This Day?”

Marily

February 19, 2011

How do I greet this day? Grateful for knowing my loving God is always there for us all, wherever we may be. Thank you for the continued gifts you share to us Liz. Your wonderful world of colors brightens up my day and night too. 🙂

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erie chapman

February 19, 2011

Liz – Thank you for describing the power of the “simpler” life people live in Guatemala. You have powerfully evoked what happens when a society chooses to look into each other’s eyes instead into the eye of a television, computer, smart phone, or all three.
It’s very worrisome to think about what happens to relationships when a country becomes filled with people who are so rich and “successful” they no longer feel the need to connect.
As always, your mandala finds and describes the most beautiful sides of a country that, as you know so vividly, also includes so much poverty and pain. You have brought light and Love back to us as you describe the Love you saw there amid what most of us would think of as darkness. Thank you

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Woody Wessel

February 19, 2011

Another beautiful mandala.

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Angelica

February 19, 2011

Sigh How I wish simpler living could revisit our time…but although we are now surrounded with advancing technology, at least we can still make room for simple things. Like in enjoying the beauty of the rainfall and its peaceful sound. That is what I am doing at the moment. It’s difficult, but making room for things like these is a must. Finding amusement in such things can help us renew our minds and feel more at ease when we get stressed out. A common saying, but so true: “Sometimes less is more.” Thank you Liz, for sharing of your experience…it must be so amazing. I can only imagine 🙂

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Angelica

February 19, 2011

And yes I agree with Woody…another beautiful mandala.

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candace nagle

February 20, 2011

Living in a world of mass instantaneous communication and an economy that threatens to drive human actions as if with a cattle prod, we could describe the “First” World, this world of great material affluence, as spiritually impoverished…which is the truest poverty. In my experience making ‘time’ for tending to what really matters is a constant balancing act. I find that caring for body, soul, family, and community is more and more threatened by a crazy and out of control set of demands of bureaucracies and modern living. This is discouraging and, sometimes, exhausting. When I read what you have shared about the people of Guatemala, I want to protect them from our privileged, affluent way of life. To have our good fortune without keeping what really matters at the heart of things is, I am afraid, the threat that we struggle with daily.
We long for a simpler life as we are swept along in madness. So, I think, we have an urgent responsibility to seek a simple life in the midst of the crazy flurry, to bring a heartfelt presence to the many places in our lives where compassionate action and ethical conduct play out fully…in our daily encounters with each other. To do this in a non-confrontational, collaborative way with a sensitivity to our fellow travelers really is essential for our well being. So, how can we bring a greater simplicity into our lives? How can we slow down and separate the essentials from the superfluous? In some ways I have been able to do this but in most I haven’t the foggiest idea how to pull it off! Carrying these questions close to my heart as I walk through my days is the best I can do.
Liz, your mandala is a beautiful representation of the wholeness of the community you visited and how it belongs (in an organic and true sense) to nature and to life…just lovely!

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Sue

February 20, 2011

Love, love , love the mandala and the message..The countryside of Guatamala and the old temples that have been there so long represent a reminding of the past.The people of that time had a strong spirit. I have and need to not put off this too..Looking into the Myan(sp) mind and what happenned when they were wiped out except so many of their places of worship..I think it was the Spanish that did that. But I love the mention of Genesis and how we came about. Your mandala shows the sun and moon between a circle of ribbons, stars,a crown of twisted ribbon to keep the circle open as if on a head. then the solid roundness to keep it all together. The clinic is a small place up on the hill. The mountains, ocean and all of nature was so much bigger. What an awesome spiritual awakening.!!!!You always have been good at knowing how to express such beauty!!!

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Margot Phillips

February 22, 2011

Well I am with Candace, I often am saddened and confused by all the stuff we have, and all the technology. Finding that simplicity in the midst of it all is challanging. And yet, and yet, Goddess /God is here too, and She/He made this life too, and the lives of those who don’t have all of these distractions and toys to play with. So somehow, I feel that we are put in this situation for some good purpose, and to use these toys as tools to change the world, make it a healthier place to live for all of us. I continue to repeat my prayer: That all those in power have the deep realization that we are all one, we are all connected, and I pray that our leaders make all of their decisions from that deep understanding. We are one with the folks who have nothing, we are one with those who have it all. We Are One.
Sleep well!

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Jeanine Sollom

February 22, 2011

So beautifully said. and yes…another beautiful mandala. So glad I looked back to see what I had missed!
The precious moments of quiet reflection…at times they seem like a luxury I can’t afford and then..I take the time and am paid back tenfold.
A wonderful lesson.

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Gemma Fernandez

February 23, 2011

I am so blessed to know Liz and read her essays and spirit lifting drawings and writtings. Thank you Liz for all that you do. God bless you.
Gemma.

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