New Energy Afoot
On a cold, grey day last week, I dragged my family out on walk around our neighborhood. I was focused on getting us exercise and then getting home as soon as possible, but my five-year old daughter was taking her sweet time. My efforts to hurry her along were in vain. As I grew more frustrated, her pace seemed to slow even more. Toward the end of our neighborhood loop, when she finally caught up to my husband and me, she showed me the reason for her distraction: a bright yellow dandelion. It provided such a striking visual contrast to the cold grey day, and her excitement and wonder a contrast to my hurried irritation.
Even though we are deep in the belly of winter, the ground beneath us is full of Spring, and every now and then a burst of bright beautiful color breaks forth, and those who are paying attention (and lower to the ground!) are primed to see it.
Even though we are deep in the belly of a pandemic that limits our gathering face-to-face, and so much of our normal life, new groups and communities are taking shape. People are beginning to dream about and plan for gatherings with loved ones and colleagues.
Even though we are weary, new energy is beginning to stir.
In the past couple of weeks, I have had conversations with several of you who are identifying new energy stirring, and seeking connections with colleagues. Maybe their ideas will connect with something stirring in you, too!
Allison Kestenbaum has developed CPE curriculum with palliative care at the center and would like to connect with others who are doing so too. She writes,
"As most of us know well, palliative care is an interdisciplinary approach to whole person care for people with serious illness. PC has always recognized the importance of spiritual care. There is increasing demand for CPE with palliative care didactics and clinical placements for employment, advanced certification and due to the usefulness of palliative care tools in all ministry. We recognize that dozens of CPE centers around the country are involved in some aspect of palliative spiritual care education but to our knowledge, there is no comprehensive list of Level 1, Level 2 or 2nd Year Residencies/Fellowships and CPE curricular tools for palliative care education for chaplains and spiritual leaders. If your center is involved in palliative spiritual care education in some way, please contact Certified Educator Allison Kestenbaum at akestenbaum@health.ucsd.edu."
I have begun to identify retired educators who may be interested in developing a Community of Practice for retired educators. There are tremendous opportunities for connection and community, for mentoring, for consultation, for ongoing education. If you have interest in being a part of this new CoP, please drop me a note at Katherine.higgins@acpe.edu.
And finally, Tom Backer is interested in developing a CoP focusing on the use of the verbatim as a teaching tool. Does this pique your interest? Contact Tom at Thomas.backer@alegent.org.Katherine Higgins is the Director of Communities of Practice. She may be contacted at katherine.higgins@acpe.edu