Nothing Broken: IDG 3min Staff Reflection

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Rev EM · Nothing Broken - a 3 min IDG Reflection No. 13

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In honor of Ramadan (and those IDG members that are hungry of body but not of spirit… ) I will begin with a quote from the Quran and end with one of my favorite Muslim poets: Hafiz.

Surely, we belong to Allah…
and to Allah shall we return.
  - Quran

I find that naming God in hospice … and in California is a improv.
Do I just call god, GOD?  It leaves out many who are wounded by religion…
And triggers others.

My favorite name for god is THE MAKER OF ALL THINGS.
It implies so much healing…in the name

That time, illness and death are on all part of a return journey to SOURCE.
It avoids thinking that Death is something broken… that we must FIX.

Our hospice team members in all our professions… provide comfort.  We do not fix.
I am sure you all have stories of providing care and them people blurt out things
That … under normal circumstances they would never say… or have never voiced..

We all have our unique medicines for these situations… to ease pain… but the biggest one in all
Our arsenals is listening.  Being a witness to pain and holding it in a way that
Shows them that they are not broken… just human beings… on a spiritual journey.

My week was full of that… reflecting back to several bereaved caregivers or widowers…
that they are not BROKEN.

They may have unfinished business that they can address, or not
…but it is all part of their journey,

I cannot force them… we cannot force them.

Hospice is about comfort.
Death is not a brokenness
No matter how it hurts, healing is possible… not fixing but healing.
We do it with good listening… yes.. and maybe good drugs too

But dont forget your UNIVERSAL superpower is listening with love and acceptance.
Being witness to their pain, and holding it gently
BUT NOT claiming it for your own.
Let it go.

Give it to the maker of all things.

To close here is Hafiz

I used to know my name.
Now I don’t. I think a river understands me.
For what does it call itself in that blessed moment
when it starts emptying into the Infinite Luminous Sea,
and opening every aspect of self wider than it ever thought possible?

Each drop of itself now running to embrace
and unite with a million new friends.
And you were there, in my union with All. 

–Hafiz Translation by Daniel Ladinsky

Offered as part of an IDG Reflection Series by Garden of Change.org
Use freely, as inspiration for your IDT/IDG teams, or simply as self support. Attribution is appreciated.
Drop us a line and let us know how you do.  info@gardenofchang.org

IDG Reflection No. 13: NOTHING BROKEN