Honouring Legacy
In October, we celebrated Spiritual Care Week and also held our Annual General Meeting. While many are aware of our financial challenges, the AGM was an opportunity to acknowledge the rich 50-year history of SHA, a legacy we have had the honour of carrying.
It is a legacy that deserves to be highlighted, as those who have gone before and pioneered the work of spiritual care in health services have significantly impacted the lives of hundreds of thousands of patients across several decades. Many people outside our industry often ask what my work entails, and while it can be challenging to articulate to those unfamiliar with the field, one concept I use is ‘coming home to the truth of oneself in their own spirit’.
As someone who competes in extreme endurance sports, I find the concept of ‘coming home to oneself’ as relevant during the gruelling moments of a triathlon as it is in the corridors of a temple, mosque, cathedral, or even a hospital bed. Some months ago, during a particularly challenging race when I was depleted of energy and endurance, a fellow competitor offered a reminder: ‘Remember who you are and why we do this… Go to the bottom and keep going.’
Delving into the depths of one’s being and facing oneself in those moments is, to me, the essence of spirituality – coming home to the truth of who you are when all else is stripped away. For our patients, it’s often these moments that make such a difference to their health journey. For 50 years, SHA has been privileged to support the chaplains and spiritual care teams in health services across the country who guide people on this profound journey of coming home to their true selves.
My hope for you, as part of our community, is that you find that place within yourself.
Craig Exon, Interim CEO
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