Note: Today’s reflection, celebrating the Journals upcoming 10 year anniversary was written by Liz Sorensen Wessel.

The day was June 7, 2006 when his inspiration breathed life on to the first page of The Journal of Sacred Work. Visionary healthcare leader and an extraordinary human being, Erie Chapman created a unique forum for caregivers, offering rest and renewal, as well as the opportunity to explore Life’s deeper truths.

Amidst these pages caregivers from around the globe have discovered an opening into the heart of the Beloved. Erie has shared wisdom through storytelling, teachings on Radical Loving Care {RLC}, gifts of the spirit, and Beauty in image and poetic verse to awaken one’s passion and purpose. This Journal has been the gateway to sharing in a way that I personally never thought possible. Through written word, artistic medium, revelation in experiences, and in sharing our inner most longings we have forged an irreplaceable bond through caring.

Together we have journeyed across a “road less traveled” delved beneath the surface to explore the unfathomable, in our living and in our dying and especially in our loving. We have been encouraged to see in new ways beyond the narrow confines of our biases, judgments and worldly habitual, fear-based thinking. We have opened ourselves in vulnerability, owned our truth and in our nakedness found redemption, with our character flaws; acceptance and in our brokenness; unconditional love. Through the simple act of showing up, we reverence life, one another and the sacredness of all that is.

Mostly we have given shape to our hopes and dreams within a welcoming hospitality of community. Each reflection offered up, is received and affirmed with love. This Journal’s unfolding reveals and manifests the expansive nature of love.  Just as light travels long distances and thousands of years across the universe, loving thoughts continue to ripple out in ways we cannot fully imagine. We are grateful to Journal readers for flaming the embers that have kept this Journal alive.  Circling through the archives, one discovers there are so many precious pearls to mine. 

It is no secret that Erie holds caregivers in the highest esteem for he views caregiving as sacred work. He believes that the qualities of our encounters have the power to heal. Erie has described sacred encounters, “When need has been heard and answered with love” as more than superficial politeness or platitudes that can diminish a person’s dignity but rather, Radical Loving Care. Throughout his distinguished career in healthcare, Erie’s revolutionary work has been transforming the hearts, minds and the culture of caregiving throughout the country.  His tireless efforts and dedication to this work as well as his personal sharing through this blog is profoundly loving. Erie’s rare passion burns so brightly it is apparent that it has claimed his heart. Although retired, his mission has continued in exponential ways.

As we celebrate the 10 year anniversary of the Journal, I wish to express my gratitude to Erie and to all of you, dear friends for the many grace filled blessings we share through openings in Love.

Liz Sorensen Wessel

Above photos by Erie Chapman