Facing vulnerability
The following passage was written by Texas Children’s Chaplain James Denham.
We made it to May! I celebrate that we have walked through the beginning of all of this. I, like you, am tired. As Mark Wallace encouraged us in his blog post, we are filling in the gaps for each other when our journeys through the past two months have challenged us and tired us out. We fill the gaps and get through it.
Sometimes, we get through because of some things that mean a lot to us, like a smile or stirring music or amazing food or that beautiful beach we love. Most times, though, it is people who show us the way and lead us with their extraordinary compassion. Brene Brown writes that “To love someone fiercely, to believe in something with your whole heart, to celebrate a fleeting moment in time, to fully engage in a life that doesn’t come with guarantees – these are risks that involve vulnerability and often pain. But, I’m learning that recognizing and leaning into the discomfort of vulnerability teaches us how to live with joy, gratitude and grace.” Indeed, her words ring powerfully true to me. It is a true wonder to me to see just how many people here at Texas Children’s embody this quote.
I wonder who you know here at Texas Children’s who leads by loving others so fiercely? I wonder who you see here at Texas Children’s who leads through their whole hearted belief and grace? I wonder who you see here at Texas Children’s who leads through facing vulnerability with joy? I wonder who you see here at Texas Children’s who leads by fulling engaging in their life and work here in the face of uncertainty? The answer I trust is many. And I trust that there are specific names who come to mind too. These are the people who inspire strength in us, who engender positivity or teamwork, who sustain our faith when we need it, who inspire us to love and lead more fiercely, even when we feel vulnerable.
My answer to this: our Texas Children’s nurses, across the board. I stand amazed at these nurses who embody Brene Brown’s words. During this pandemic and our response, they stand face to face with patients, adults, kids, mothers, fathers, and others who bring their vulnerability, and they have loved their patients fiercely through advocacy and genuineness regardless of the PPE they wear, celebrated moments and progresses through masks, believe in serving the those are sick with their whole heart, and who yet embody the joy of ordinary things, gratitude for life, grace towards others, and grit that we all need. This week as we begin the move into May and the march to summer with lots of uncertainty, we march forward with the fierce strength of our nurses, and the fierce strength of one another at Texas Children’s.
What I am challenging you to do is not be afraid to face the vulnerability of our lives now, not with just your own resources, but with the presence of others who can encourage us on through these times. In the kid’s book, Wonder, R.J. Palacio states this: “Courage. Kindness. Friendship. Character. These are the qualities that define us as human beings, and propel us, on occasion, to greatness.” Our nurses embody those qualities. And you and I know others who do too, whether staff here or your kids or neighbors or those at your place of worship. Be grateful and let them know how you appreciate them. Tell a story to others about them. Call them. Show your joy for the people that get you through. And then just like them, let courage, fierce love, kindness, friendship, and character define you too.