Following Your Heart

Messages of love that are tied to beauty and art once intimidated me.  It seems my art ability peaked with stick figures and my musical competence with pounding out chopsticks on the piano.  Still, I know we are expected to bring love into the world.  Jesus commands us to “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  The Jewish tradition treats love as an obligation, a duty – no waffling allowed.  I can’t imagine a way to practice Mahayana Buddhism and follow the Noble Eightfold Path without loving others along the way to enlightenment.   And the African proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child,” illustrates an expectation that in being part of a community sharing a piece of your own self-value is essential in the formation of the next generation.

This notion of self-value is hard for me, and I suspect for many of us.  Acknowledging our own value requires that we focus on our unique gifts, the recognition of what each of us does well, rather than obsess over our shortcomings.   The reality is that our gifts change over time; they mature and are refined as we become more confident and less afraid.  This doesn’t mean that it’s easy.  It takes time, effort and intention.  I am lucky; the love that I experience, the love I know and cherish each day, the love I am searching for takes the form of offering myself and service to others.  And even though some days I falter - I don’t want to get up before the crack of dawn for an early east coast meeting or drive to east elsewhere to deliver food or clothes; I don’t even want to fly across the country to talk about miracles.  Then I remind myself it’s about showing up, the saying ‘Yes’ that changes the reality in someone else’s life.  I think of the prayer group I am part of and how it connects me with a group of people I’ve never met, but for whom the experience of knowing that others are concerned for their welfare is healing. 

What we do and how we do it, is important to me; I draw inspiration from those around me.  Meb recently discovered that it was her “Donahue” interview 20 years ago – the one she knew she alone had to do though she was exhausted - that resulted in researchers at SUNY initiating their landmark study on safety in child care.  Katie’s chance meeting with Rose Mapendo in November connected Rose’s mission to establish a women’s training and empowerment center in Rwanda with Katie’s organizational and fundraising expertise.  These connections would never have been made had conversation not occurred.  As a miracle chaser, I have been privy to many of you sharing your stories of sadness and of joy, creating our own village through reaching out and holding on to the connection that makes us feel special, feel loved– and I have taken it to heart.  Understanding and respecting my own abilities to network and bring people and ideas together helps me to recognize my passion for creating opportunities to share this love and connection.

Given my background in health care and my propensity for action, it’s not a big surprise I am fascinated with translational medicine – the concept of fast tracking bench to bedside research.  What I didn’t expect when I got involved with the Center for Vaccine and Immunotherapy at Mass General few years ago was it would lead to an investigation about the relationship between medicine and miracles.  It’s a conversation in early stages about spirituality and about science, but at its core it is about connection.  Connection with the Almighty, connection with each other and a respect and understanding of the whole person, I think this is what I bring to the table…my gift…a willingness to look outside the box for answers, for expanding relationships, and for making someone’s life a little more comfortable whether it is through the simple act of listening, advancing education or health care, or even offering a prayer.

This spark of interest, of enthusiasm, and of the dedication we all aspire to, has ignited commitments creating new connections with others and is not only a labor of love, it has become the intersection of art and beauty in my life.  For my 50th birthday my in-laws presented me with a silver serving tray engraved with the words of Joy Golliver, “The meaning of life is to find your gift, the purpose of life is to give it away.”  I think this is how we love one another.  Finally admitting and appreciating this, has allowed me to expand my journey and live the beautiful words of St. Augustine, “Since love grows within you, so beauty grows.  For love is the beauty of the soul.”