A Call to a Calling

Appamāda

Rev. Mary Myoku Remington, a Buddhist Chaplain and Director of the Buddhist Chaplaincy Training Program at Upaya, takes us back to her very first day in clinical training. What began as a harried and judgment-laden handoff of a “difficult” patient quickly unfolded into a frightening moment. As a novice chaplain, with no script to follow, Mary chose to stay and listen and be interested. What emerges is a story about the slow unraveling of anger into grief, of distance into understanding. In bearing witness to her patient’s pain, Mary discovered an early and enduring truth of her calling: that beneath even the most volatile exteriors may lie a tender, wounded heart, and that the simple act of staying can lead to a closing of the chasm between two individuals. Sacred Moments Initiative [https://www.sacredmomentsinitiative.org/]2800 Plymouth Road North Campus Research Complex Building 16, Room 430W Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2800 734-936-5216

A Call to a Calling

In his reflections, Dr. Dale Nikkel traces the origins of a calling that emerged through an interruption—an unexpected pager sounding in the midst of an ordinary evening, opening a pathway to extraordinary purpose. Drawn by a longing he could not yet name, he stepped into the sacred space of spiritual care, where his very first encounter was marked not by expertise, but by humility and missteps. At the bedside of a dying man, stripped of training and pretense, he discovered that healing presence can begin simply with one human being willing to sit with another. In these tender, imperfect, and profoundly real moments, he found that the calling is less about knowing what to do, and more about being willing to show up, with an open heart, during life’s most fragile thresholds. Sacred Moments Initiative [https://www.sacredmomentsinitiative.org/]2800 Plymouth Road North Campus Research Complex Building 16, Room 430W Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2800 734-936-5216

Listening for Life

We as humans don't always appreciate the incredible automatic work our bodies do to keep us alive, like the silent rhythmic symphony of our heartbeat. In this episode, Naomi Zikmund-Fisher shares two deeply personal stories from her pregnancy that reveal what it's like when the body suddenly feels unsafe, when the symphony becomes chaotic. From an abruptly racing heartbeat that left her questioning whether her body could sustain her unborn child to an emergency treatment that temporarily stopped her heart, Naomi invites listeners into the emotional landscape patients often experience in healthcare. She talks about the importance of validation even when symptoms are uncertain or evolving, the power of small acts of support, and the value in preparing patients for what medical interventions may feel like. I loved how each of her stories ends with the sound of a heartbeat. Sacred Moments Initiative [https://www.sacredmomentsinitiative.org/]2800 Plymouth Road North Campus Research Complex Building 16, Room 430W Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2800 734-936-5216

Doing Laps

Dr. Brian Zikmund-Fisher opens with a personal story from the bone marrow transplant ward, where he underwent chemotherapy and confronted the daily realities of serious illness. He describes his connection with Steve, another patient who had begun the same treatment path a week earlier, and their silent pledge to each other and to themselves. Following his story, Dr. Zikmund-Fisher reflects on how patients may create a personal space in the hospital through meaningful and humanizing objects. He notes that patients need not be endlessly patient but can control parts of their experience. He explores fear as a motivator, the importance of understanding risk and making a commitment, the value of acceptance of one’s circumstances, and how shared experiences can build community—reminding us that in healthcare, the human experience matters just as much as the science. Sacred Moments Initiative [https://www.sacredmomentsinitiative.org/]2800 Plymouth Road North Campus Research Complex Building 16, Room 430W Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2800 734-936-5216

126 Healers

So far in Boundless Moments, we have heard from healthcare and mental healthcare providers who have shared their reflections on what it means to experience sacred moments with patients, clients, colleagues, or even mentees. It's time then to explore how sacred moments may unfold from the patient's perspective. And perhaps there's no more fitting segue than by hearing from a person who has experienced both the physician and the patient roles.  Dr. Raj Mangrulkar shares with me the very personal moment he realized he was having a stroke, transitioning from caregiver to patient, from independent to relying on others. He shares parts of his health care journey in the hospital and later in the rehab center, reflecting on the value of being seen and heard in a holistic way, the emotional rollercoaster of recovery, and how the eyes can be a window to the soul. The sacred moments in his story are abundant and arise from his intense personal vulnerability and willingness to share his story with others, as well as his reliance on so many people in his community to heal and return to what he loves to do, and how his experience allowed him to grow closer to the Veterans for whom he cares. I left the conversation feeling uplifted and inspired, and I very much hope you do the same.  Sacred Moments Initiative [https://www.sacredmomentsinitiative.org/]2800 Plymouth Road North Campus Research Complex Building 16, Room 430W Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2800 734-936-5216