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 263-264: “Eat that Frog”

Liz-Self Potrait 9-25-2011

 

"Anyone can do any amount of work, provided it isn't the work he is supposed to be doing at that moment."  -Robert Benchley

Note: Weekend essay offered by guest contributor, Liz Wessel.

In a recent Journal entry (September 3, 2011 ) I shared thoughts on Sabbath and our need to step out of our daily routines and into the sacred. Today’s reflection will journey towards the other end of the spectrum and explore our need to accomplish chores. At the close of a busy week, entering into a Sabbath weekend is a welcomed reprieve from the chaos. Yet, it can be hard to truly relax when unpaid bills are looming, the house is a mess and the home repairs that have been waiting for an embarrassing long time.

I’ve heard it said there is nothing more fatiguing than a job left undone. Just being aware that a task is undone can weigh us down, then multiply it by 10 because of procrastination and…ugh! To be honest, on Saturday mornings regardless of my good intentions I lack motivation to tackle chores. When I begin my chores I feel as though I am trying to walk through water my movement slow and labored. Fatigue sets in and by body seems to go on strike. “No, you have pushed me all week and I am not going to do another thing!” Besides in truth, I’d much rather spend my precious time doing things I enjoy. Then, I hear my deceased mother-in law's voice in my head say, “Liz, the chores will always be there (and you will not), relax.” That's when I usually cave but still I have this lingering discontent with my perceived self languor.

It all comes back to balance each day, does it not? Yet, it is so much easier said, than done. I believe it is necessary to have time to renew and to experience the joy in being alive. The trick is to be able to experience our time without a nagging, underlying worry of what is left undone.

Chris Cade, shared a one minute video by Brian Tracy that I would like to pass on to you. Food for thought so to speak. I never did like frog but I am willing to give this a try. I hope you will find it a helpful reminder.

~liz Sorensen Wessel

Note: Pencil drawing by ~liz


 

 

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4 responses to “Days 263-264: “Eat that Frog””

  1. Marily Avatar
    Marily

    Pretty neat Liz… I will try this for 30 days 🙂 eat my live frog first thing I wake up, thank you I needed this specially in my room.

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  2. Maria Doglio Avatar
    Maria Doglio

    I think I am always struggling to stop living in the world of “shoulds”—usually they are other people’s shoulds anyway; the shoulds we grew up with that were our parents shoulds, the shoulds of our peers, the shoulds of society, our partners, our bosses, etc., etc.,—we are under constant pressure to complete the shoulds. I, like you Liz, find myself completely tired and lethargic most Saturdays, my designated “chore day”–a very old pattern. I’ve decided it’s better to listen to the wisdom of my body—when it’s yelling “time out, rest!”, I now rest and do small things I enjoy-(even if it is Saturday and the ghost of my Mother’s voice says “finish your chores before you play!”). Rested, I can tackle the chores at any time and at any hour. Rested, we get through the things we don’t like so much, but are necessary–like laundry and all the little mundane tasks that support a more restful home. I’ll eat the frog later, when I’m rested–then it won’t taste so bad! :>

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  3. candace nagle Avatar
    candace nagle

    Ah! I agree with Maria. The frog can wait til I am ready. Maybe if I wait long enough it will turn into a prince who cooks, cleans, and does yard work! And those ‘shoulds’…how did they get to be so powerful anyway? Often with myself and with my patients I am aware that conflicting needs sabotage the plan. But now, you bring up another concern; conflicting ‘shoulds’. How can we even know what we need if the ‘shoulds’ are clamoring so loudly for the priority time slot that we are immobilized and can’t get beyond lethargy to our true natures? I agree, Liz, that it is about balance. And finding our own personal balance is made more difficult by the out of balance status of our fast paced world. It helps to have one room or place that is a sanctuary. This would be a place that isn’t dependent on the restoration of mundane order or completion of work tasks. Maybe a painting and/or writing studio or a place we walk that is quiet. The restoration of the soul must come first because, the way our world is set up, if we don’t put it first it will never get done!

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  4. erie chapman Avatar
    erie chapman

    Wasn’t able to play the video on my computer but I pick up the issue here and, as always, I love your drawing.
    Thanks for focusing attention no the exhaustion of things left undone and the way they hang on us like lead coats.

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