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.

What Sparked Joy Today?

Cloudless sulfur butterfly“Many of us have made our world so familiar that we do not see it anymore," the great John O'Donohue writes.

He adds a delightful challenge: "An interesting question to ask yourself at night is, What did I really see this day?”

Ever since, the energy in my always searching eyes has been even more alert to sudden moments that spark joy.

One struck today. A new friend fell from the sky into my eyes. He appeared first as a flame, acrobating the air as a tip of lightning. Then a flying leaf. Finally, a brilliant, solid yellow butterfly.

Botanists call them "yellow sulfur" butterflies. I call them sparks of joy.BEST STILL OF CLOUDLESS SULFUR BUTTERFLY

Odd as it sounds coming from a tough, 80-year old former trial lawyer and hospital CEO who spent his career in florescent-lit battlefields, this little fellow with the always sun-drenched wings, who flitted by and vanished in a second, did something for me. He sparked joy.

When I slip into bed tonight and ask myself "What did I really see this day?" my dashing flash of a yellow friend will again ignite light in my heart.

Click here to see a 30 second video I made for you from online clips. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=926j-8DbyyM

What sparked joy for you today?  

-Erie Chapman

The blurry pictures and video YouTube prove that these beings are, well, sparks. 

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4 responses to “What Sparked Joy Today?”

  1. Sue Finefrock Avatar
    Sue Finefrock

    I needed a reminder to stop and to rejoice ln the miracle of life today. Thank you for stopping by.

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  2. Liz Wessel Avatar
    Liz Wessel

    Thank you for creating a lovely spark of joy and pure delight within us, Erie! Your music accompaniment is as beautiful as the butterflies dance!

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  3. Erie Chapman Foundation, Nashville, Tennessee Avatar
    Erie Chapman Foundation, Nashville, Tennessee

    Thank you, Sue. Glad this helped you make a “miracle stop.” Maybe we all need to figure out how to make that more the norm than the exception…a very tough thing to pull off:-)

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  4. Erie Chapman Foundation, Nashville, Tennessee Avatar
    Erie Chapman Foundation, Nashville, Tennessee

    Thanks so much, Liz. YOU are a spark of delight for so many each day.

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