Gratitude: Service of Rememberance and Celebration

What a wonderful way to celebrate and remember all of us who care for our patients. The theme brought us back to Mother Earth as we are in the beautiful setting of Vancouver where we all are here to support each other. The symbol of the tree was used in several ways from the tree created during the conference by those attending and remembering those dear to them and also on the front of the handout with the Arbutus Tree (Madrone) which holds the tile of most sacred to inhabitants of this coastal region. I think the tree even though it looks like they stand alone are actually connected in many ways. And so are we.

I especially enjoyed the celebration because of it’s emphasis on gratitude. I think in the hard days we face and the many challenges, many of them discussed during the conference, that we remember to return to ourselves and be grateful. To have gratitude as we complete our day for the work we are called to do. Grateful for the sun that warms us, the ground we walk on and the air we breath. To also cherish our heritage personally and united as presented by Gabe George and Carleen Thomas from the Tsleil-Waututh Nation meaning “People of the Inlet”.

Gabe shared with us the loss of his brother from HIV and how he learned that healing is best done through song. Carleen and Gabe shared many songs with us and the healing in the room could be felt.

Patrick Clary also shared with us his healing journey which has taken many years and started in his youth with his magpie.

In a unique experience, often we share our monetary offerings, but what we received was a gift made by Kelly Two Wolves (she was introduced to us in the earlier plenary session). The beads represented the North (Red), West (Black), South (White) and East (Yellow) and the representation of the colors of the human race. The beads were presented in a bracelet, circular, joined and never ending showing we are ALL connected (related). This reminded me of another practice I learned this year, The Medicine Wheel.

In closing we joined in the Aztec Prayer of Community.

Only for so short a while, O God,

You have loaned us to each other.

Because we take form

In your act of drawing us.

And we take life

In your painting us.

And we breathe

In your singing us.

But only for so short a while

Have you loaned us to each other.

Thank you for this wonderful experience.