SABBATICAL — Monday Motivational Meditation #419 — 2019-08-19

“During my sabbatical,
I spent two years not listening to my songs at all.”

Ricky Martin, 1971-

Puerto Rican singer, actor and author who is widely regarded as the “King of Latin Pop”. He holds dual American and Spanish citizenship, and began his career at age 12 with the all-boy pop group Menudo.

SABBATICAL
by Ron Noecker

Where do the years and seasons go? After enough of them, I think I join many who think a change of scenery for a while would be great to process the adventure. A sabbatical can give me a chance to take a break from my customary work, to get some extra rest, or to acquire a new skill or training.

It’s one of those things that I have to put in the back of my mind. Getting the most out of life while caring for others requires thinking outside the box sometimes. I can’t just sit back and let life pass. Life is such a gift, and after a long while at the usual work, I hope I can allow the opportunity to take some extended leave to process what it all means. Learning something new that expands my horizons or gives a new skill may not be as far-fetched as I might imagine.

In the meantime, it’s good to consider a time of extended leave or a sabbatical. Could I allow myself to be unoccupied and carried by the whims of the day? I know it would be daring.

Divine Promise, give me the strength to be unafraid to stop the movements of my life and pause for an extended period. May even the idea of it help me to know my significance. Guide me to include periods of sabbatical so that I might fill my heart with new energy to bring love into the world. AMEN.

ACTION: Who is someone you’ve known that has taken a sabbatical? Talk to them this week and see if they have any advice for you.

In the offseason, we take advantage of the extra non-clinical hours and head out into the communities to meet with our partners. This last week Sara and I met with Lois and Amilcar from Hombres y Mujeres en Acción to discuss the coming season and this year’s medical clinics.

During the year, we utilize the medical expertise of the visiting nurse groups, alongside local medical staff to hold general medical and women’s health clinics. This involves traveling to remote communities of San Martín Jilotepeque to provide this service to those who would not usually be able to travel nor afford health care.

This partnership allows both of our organizations to achieve more by serving a larger population, working together. Through their Obras Sociales Health Clinic in San Martín Jilotepeque, they provide medical, dental, and psychological care. This clinic is our place of referral and followup for any patients we diagnose during the remote medical clinics. Meaning, that we can maintain adequate and sustainable medical practices and know that our patients are taken care of after we have left.

We are so very grateful to our friends at HyMA and are so lucky to be able to work with such an enthusiastic group and an excellent organization, to provide much needed medical care to the people of Guatemala.

Best,

Jade Parker-Manderson
Executive Director

Support Nursing Heart by becoming a donor. As little as $15 a month (over 12 months) supports TWELVE children to receive a wellness screening including anitparasite treatment, nutrition screening, fluoride treatment and health education.

“The quote is taking a vacation this week.
It will return soon.”

Mark Hakomaki is an artist and has graciously allowed Nursing Heart to share his photos from a summer excursion with Bill Huebsch into Ireland. Enjoy these lush summer colors as perhaps you reflect upon or prepare for a summer vacation. Mark writes,

“I am a painter and, over the years, I have come to rely on art, music, and nature to explain life and be my voice. Painting with oils allows me to achieve this goal. I learned to paint by simply approaching the easel with my brush. I soon realized each subject and image I paint, by its very nature, will never exist again except on my canvas; thus, have I learned how to transmit the intrinsic nature of each subject I approach.”