The College of Pastoral Supervision & Psychotherapy is a theologically based covenant community, dedicated to "recovery of the soul" and promoting competency in the clinical pastoral field.
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Today is the third day of the 2011 Pastoral Care Week, October 23-29. Our theme is "Shared Voice" (voices shared). Tuesdays are special for me because they evoke special voices from my mentors. Celebrate with us as you read this reflection.
I can still recall my first day as a Supervisor-in-Training with a CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education) group. It was Tuesday, September 11, 2001, when the Twin Towers exploded after they were attacked.
It was on Tuesdays when we met and it was on one of those days that we discussed Mitch Albom’s book titled “Tuesdays with Morrie.” The book is a series of flashbacks as Mitch recalls the voice of his favorite professor at Brandeis University. It was not until sixteen years after Mitch graduated that he reconnected with and dedicated his Tuesdays to his dying professor, Morrie Schwartz, whom he called “coach.” After his mentor’s death, Mitch continues to hear Morrie’s instructions on the meaning of life and how to accept death and aging. His mentor’s voice from their Tuesdays continues to resonate in his life.
Like Mitch Albom, I too recall the voices of my mentors.
María Dávila-Díaz, my mother who modeled respect and love for others;
Eliseo Dávila, my father who taught me discipline and the work ethic;
Mr. Clark, my sixth grade teacher who believed in me;
Donald Capps, my seminary professor who introduced me to pastoral care and counseling;
My CPE mentors and supervisors:
Ben Patrick modeled how to listen to the heart;
Fred Sickert taught me to think with my heart and feel with my mind;
Medicus Rentz modeled how to be a pastoral clinician;
George Buck taught me how to identify the client’s pain, name it and process it;
Esteban Montilla modeled pastoral care and gentleness by using confrontation plus care.
Now it is your turn: what are the voices from your mentors?
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Daniel Dávila is a CPSP Board Certified Clinical Chaplain at the Austin State Hospital in Texas who was awarded Employee of the Month this year..
Posted by Perry Miller, Editor at October 25, 2011 1:02 PM
