The Radiant Mission

A couple of days ago, I discovered that I had a Kindle credit. As I explored what options might be available, I came across the book, "Dancing with Elephants, Mindfulness Training For Those Living With Dementia, Chronic Illness or an Aging Brain," written by Jarem Sawatsky. In this book, he writes about his journey with Huntington's disease and how he began to face the inevitable decline that this degenerative, hereditary and terminal illness ushers in. I have not finished the book, but I am finding it thought provoking. He faces his illness with faith, honesty, humor, and a willingness to ask for support from his family and friends.

I was originally drawn to the book because of the author's research into communities dedicated to peace (such as Thich Nhat Hanh's Plum Village) and I do want to read more about his work in this area. He was also led to spend some time with the medical doctor, Patch Adams (subject of a 1998 movie that starred Robin Williams as Patch). At the time of their meeting, Sawatsky had heard that Patch Adams had probably been present at about 10,000 death beds, usually dressed like a clown. When the author asked Patch about these experiences, Patch replied: “They are not deathbeds. They are living beds. The fact that you are ‘dying’… well, I see you as living. So where is the fun?”

This is very much at the heart of SpiritCare Ministry. No, we do not dress up like clowns, and I am a poor teller of jokes. However, there is much laughter as we tend to the lives that gather with us. Because we are a Christ centered ministry, the board, the pastors, and the volunteers know we are tending to the sacred. We do our best to instill the message that all are held fast in God's love, and that is true regardless of one's health, one's ability to communicate, one's particular faith journey, or whatever mistakes someone might have made or perhaps are making now. We do not come in judgement; we come in love.

Sawatsky said that after his time with Patch Adams, he began to reflect on this question: "What if the answer to most of our problems is to make the 
other radiant?" * There are challenges now, of course, because we cannot meet in person. However, one day we will be able to again. There is still much life to be lived. Let us go forth, pondering how we can bring out the light and love in all we meet. That mission can start today, with the next phone call, the next video conference, the next visit to the corner store. In fact, let's go ahead and start right now with ourselves.

and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.

Isaiah 58:10 NIV

*page 86

photograph: San Leandro, April 2020