Stirrings of the Heart & Soul

The Abiding Energy of Community

Reflections from our Sacred Moments gathering

Wonder and Gratitude

Those two words capture what unfolded at our recent gathering to share  “Sacred Moments” on February 22nd.  What the thirty or so participants brought to the room — their stories, openness, and willingness to share their experiences of the sacred in the company of near-strangers — created something that was more than the sum of its parts.  The generous feedback we received has given us further direction as we all contemplate the ways in which we can continue to grow this community. 

What we discover together enriches who we are alone

Perhaps the most resonant theme of the day was the surprise of how profound it felt simply to not be alone.  Again and again, participants described a sense of relief and fortification in discovering that so many others — across different professions, different settings, different years of practice — share the same orientation toward care, the same attunement to moments that transcend the clinical. One participant put it beautifully: "We came together, not knowing each other, but by the end, we spoke the same language and created something beautiful." That shared language — the language of the sacred — is the connective tissue of this community.

What we seek sometimes finds us

Sacred moments in healthcare are not rare exceptions reserved for extraordinary circumstances. They can arise in brief exchanges, in a hand held a moment longer, in a patient’s unexpected humor or a family’s quiet gratitude. They occur not only in isolated interactions but also in relationships that deepen over time. And, instead of us looking for them, they  may find us — as one participant observed — when we are available to notice and open up to them. They may come unlooked-for, like low-hanging fruit on a tree along our path, which we may only notice if we take our eyes off the trail. 

This gathering turned out to be sacred, whether some of us were looking for it or not. 

We received other feedback as well: a desire to share humanistic ideas in our workplaces, for a contact list to stay connected with kindred spirits, and for continued growth of the group. And we hear you.  Because our principle tenet is relationship and community, we’re relying on personal word-of-mouth as the best way to widen the circle of participants.  So, if you find value in our mission, please invite your friends and colleagues.   The HSHSac leadership team will also continue to develop ways to strengthen our community and facilitate future gatherings.  And, if you have ideas of possible topics for future meetings, please send them to us through our contact form.

Louise, Michael, Rochelle, Maurice, Marty, and Kevin

The HSH Team