“The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out.
”- Proverbs 20:5
What if the end goal, the grand vision, the ultimate outcome of all our work was to create sacred spaces?
We prevent, we test, we analyze, we research, we hypothesize, we prescribe, we treat, we operate, we educate, we rehabilitate — all so our patients will be able to engage in the sacred spaces of their lives.
To enjoy a jog around the lake in the early morning hours as the mist rises; to beam proudly as a granddaughter walks across the stage at graduation; to rock a baby to sleep in the middle of the night; to breathe deeply through the anxious moments of every relationship.
We get them to these moments, these spaces, so nothing else will be in the way of the Spirit of God doing Its transformative work in their hearts, allowing them to experience the depth of love, the relief of forgiveness, the joy of laughter, the revelation of understanding, the comfort of another's touch.
What if we recognized that sacred spaces are not only waiting down the road for our patients and ourselves, but are here right now, in this very moment? We have space to breathe deeply, to understand, to know love, to laugh, to comfort, to forgive.
This is our work. This is our calling: to create the spaces, amidst all the fears of this world, where the Spirit of Christ can abide.
Questions for Reflection
- What comes to your mind after you read this story?