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“I think I can, I think I can, I think I can…” 

The line above is taken from a story entitled The Little Engine That Could. I recall my Mother reading it many times to me and my siblings, and we in turn have shared it with our children. I recently re-read it and I felt a plethora of emotions… hope, anticipation, grief and joy, to name a few. You may be familiar with it, and yet I encourage you to read it again. I promise you that your experiences will bring new depth to the message.

I encountered ACPE at just the right time; a season in which I “felt” powerless and silenced in my personal life. I was pulling a heavy load, and because of the shame I felt being a minister who was in an unhealthy and unhappy marriage, I was suffering in silence. It wasn’t that I didn’t have anyone to help me, I hid my pain. An article in Essence Magazine calls this “sanctified and suffering”. 

In the story, help came from an unexpected place. The work we do as CPE Educators and Psychotherapists is often done with one person at a time or in small groups. It is specific, unique, often misunderstood, underrated, and imperfect (we are only human, you know); however, it is important and impactful work. 

I credit my first CPE Educator and my therapist with providing me a safe enough place to tell my truth and helping me “move from shame to self-worth”. I have heard many of you express that the reason you became spiritual care professionals is because you wanted to come alongside hurting people to help them in ways similar to those that helped you.

As we close out internships and residencies, I pray that those we have served are leaving feeling seen and heard and are able to use their voices for the good of themselves and others. I also pray that we will bring fresh ideas, compassion, and competence to those we will welcome in the upcoming academic year as we come alongside them in word and support, saying… I think you can, I think you can, I think you can!

Blessings Always,

Cecelia