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.

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.

About

Days 340-344 – Catching Rain

November 21, 2011

Rain's arrival caused me to pop open the umbrella to protect my one-year old grandson. From what?

He immediately extended his tiny hand (left) and caught a raindrop. Smiling, he tried to hand it to me.

North and South it always seems to rain during Thanksgiving week. Cloudy skies brings grumbles to some adults. But, not to the very young.

What about autumn leaves? Instead of just watching them fall, have you tried to catch one and make a wish on it before releasing it to the ground?

I scoop out leaves to clean the small pond in our back yard. My youngest grandson prefers to toss them back in.

This is all childish nonsense to some. For me, it may be childish, but it's not nonsense.

I have no words to describe the river of light that flowed through me when I saw that little, dimpled hand catch rain. A million memories drenched my heart as I extended my own hand to join his.

It's such a trivial thing. And nothing is so important.

The famed poet (and physician) William Carlos Williams, M.D., captured this notion in a poem I love to quote:

"so much depends

upon

a red wheel

barrow

glazed with rain

water

beside the white

chickens."

I remember using this poem once in a devotional at a hospital I was leading. Afterwards, I glimpsed the odd expressions on some of the executive's faces. It was easy to discern their thoughts: "What the heck does this have to do with running a hospital and why is the CEO reading such a thing?"

Catching rain can be like catching Love. Small children reach for rain drops with innocence and joy. Why is it so difficult for most adults to do the same?

In order to "catch" Love, we may need to loosen our death-grip on the harder realities of caregiving. Our human competence thirsts to be sprinkled by the mysteries of the heart.

Can we learn from a one-year old that grace may arrive in a single raindrop as powerfully as in an entire day of sunshine?

-Erie Chapman

Posted in Uncategorized

8 responses to “Days 340-344 – Catching Rain”

~liz Wessel

November 21, 2011

Ah, but it is raining here in the west, a perfectly grey day, just right for cozying in…I guess because we don’t get much rain in sunny CA, I relish it. I especially enjoy watching the cloud formations that often accompanies rain. Thanks for sharing these images of you and your precious grandson, Erie. It is lovely to see how they are informing your time together in sweet moments of Grace. I’m leaving now to spend a few days with my two grandchildren and shall greet them with a heightened awareness of the rare but simple gift of seeing (and loving) through their eyes.
Some years ago, I was driving to visit a patient in need of home care services. It was raining very hard, one of those short lived torrential downpours. I was listening to a classical music station and I was a real novice with this music genre. Suddenly,the most exquisite piece I ever heard began to play. As I arrived at my destination I sat there completely enraptured in the moment. Finally, I pulled myself away and exited the car, as I was going to be late for my appointment. It was one of those truly magical moments that made an indelible impression on my heart.

LikeLike

Reply
Jolynn

November 21, 2011

Oh my, your story is beauty drenched. This sweet child’s hand perfectly captures and offers us a chance to turn toward, and with, the joy capacity of being alive.

LikeLike

Reply
Maria Doglio

November 21, 2011

Lovingly sweet this is! It brought back memories for me too, of when my children were very young. On a warm, rainy day in summer, my best friend and I took our combined brood for a walk and allowed the children to take their shoes off and run amuck in any puddle they wished in total freedem. We two adult Moms even did it! Ah, delicious freedom and delight was had by all! We laughed all the way home.
I also remember when I first started having babies, that I was taken by their wonderment and delight of the simplest things that we as adults take for granted and forget as we rush around being terribly busy and important—like the wonder of raindrops and the how they feel.
Thank you, Erie, for bringing me around to these memories again. Enjoy every moment with your family this Thanksgiving.

LikeLike

Reply
Marily

November 21, 2011

When it comes to rain, I imagine a little child looking up with mouth open wide and sticking tongue out catching the raindrops like gumdrops. Thank you Rev. Erie for the reminder that in our Caregiving, in the same way we too could easily catch love with full excitement and surprises.

LikeLike

Reply
Diana Gallaher

November 22, 2011

I love playing in a hard, warm rain with no lightening. I still have nieces and a nephew that will join me. I think being mindful of beauty such as you describe here is one way we are able to live love, not fear.

LikeLike

Reply
Karen York

November 23, 2011

I think we need to spend more time with one-year olds!
Happy Thanksgiving to all!

LikeLike

Reply
erie chapman

November 23, 2011

Beautiful comments from each and every one of you. Thank you and Happy Thanksgiving!

LikeLike

Reply
candace nagle

November 24, 2011

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you. Today I will be with my grandchildren who are the ticket to magic and wonder…bliss!

LikeLike

Reply