One
of the most powerful ideas that I encountered in medical school, came
from a physician who lived a hundred years ago. Dr. Edward Livingstone
Trudeau started the tuberculosis hospital movement at the beginning
of the last century. A statue honoring Dr. Trudeau has his favorite
quotation inscribed upon its base: "To cure sometimes, relieve
often, comfort always."
As
physicians, we often get lost in our technologies, treatments, latest
innovations; and in doing so we forget that the human element, connection
with each other, is essential to healing, to well-being, to the continuation
of life.
This
idea of the paramount importance of compassionate connection shows up
everywhere in our lives. Comfort comes in the moments that we take to
acknowledge a harried cashier in the grocery checkout line, to sit with
a sick patient or loved one and let them feel our presence, to recognize
that the checkbook can be balanced later so we can be with our partner
now, to give ourselves a moment to enjoy the autumn colors.
Comfort
comes in slowing down, quieting down, being present to the moment, the
feeling, the person-at-hand. It is true whether that person-at-hand
is a patient, a stranger, a friend, a child, a partner, even our own
self.
Yes,
sometimes we can be part of a "cure". We can often help relieve
pain and suffering. But we should not forget that we can always comfort.
We don't have to be wise. We don't have to be powerful. We just need
to be present. And in doing so we are a living connection to spirit.