INTERNATIONAL
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Read David Randle's perspective on the 2002 Winter Olympics. Click here.
September 16, 2005 PCNSR Colleagues,
Late yesterday afternoon in Columbia SC at the ML King
Jr park, I was fortunate to be able to participate in a rally featuring Cindy
Sheehan (the courageous Peace Mom who waited this summer in a ditch in
Crawford TX trying to talk with the president). She and her wonderful
touring group are making a swing through various cities prior to the big Sept.
24 anti-war march and activities in Washington, DC.
They are an inspiring bunch; and most of the 200
persons in attendance were living with their tears as the eight speakers,
including Cindy, shared their grief and anger over losing their military
children because of a lying and deceiving president and his complicit
administration. The event was closed with the lighting of candles and the
singing of Amazing Grace and the bugling of taps by a recently
discharged soldier.
I'll be joining some other South Carolinians on buses
next week to journey toward our nation's capital for the national anti-war
march on Sept. 24.
Peace and greetings,
Tom Summers
April 3, 2004
A series of crises have complicated our lives for the past 15 months. These crises have made it impossible for me to communicate and explain my long silence. In January of 2003 I was diagnosed with Parkinsons. I have had several falls, in one of which I broke my elbow. A serious infection, plus a back surgery followed, and I’ve spent the last three months in either the hospital or in convalescent care. During this stressful time, Donald, Susan, John, and Charlotte have been wonderfully helpful, as have my friends. For this I am very thankful. Charlotte has had several surgeries from which she is recovering well. I too am recovering and regaining my strength. In recent weeks, until today, I was in a convalescent hospital. Now I am thankful to be liberated and at home! As I have experienced these painful events, it seemed important to me to look at the many lessons that were thrust on me -- lessons that I didn’t want to learn. The negative lessons included deeper awareness of the consuming power of acute pain that has gobbled up my creative energy. Another lesson is the experience of powerlessness, depression, and helplessness. Feeling and being helpless is a new experience for this middle class, upwardly striving, white male. Being helpless, and at the mercy of underpaid, overworked hospital aides, gives me more empathy for the countless people who are low on the power totem pole in our society. Furthermore, the multiple losses of the last two years have put me in touch with what could be called cumulative grief overload. One plus one plus one equals not three, but four or five or more. The positive lessons include the challenging and shaking up of my priorities. The people with whom I share love are more important than ever before. Furthermore, the peace, justice and ecology causes that have been so important to me throughout my life, have even higher priority today. In addition, exploring & sharing innovative ideas and theories seem more crucial to me now. This includes the completion of two writing projects -- the revision of Basic Types of Pastoral Care and Counseling for the 21st Century. Also a writing project that reflects another passionate professional interest; namely a book on sickness-causing (pathogenic) vs. health-giving (salugenic) beliefs and value systems. Now looking back at the eight decades of my life, I feel grateful for the many blessings I have been given. The opportunities I have been given as a teacher, therapist, and writer have enabled me to contribute in small but significant ways to a more caring and just future through the good people with whom I have touched minds and hearts. My relationship with
you is very important to me. Thank you for keeping me in your thoughts and
prayers. I look forward to our keeping in touch.
WHAT? An endowed conference linked with a lectureship co-sponsored by Claremont School of Theology (CST) and The Clinebell Institute (TCI), perhaps in collaboration with the Claremont Graduate University and/or the Society for Pastoral Theology. The theme might be something like "Creative Caregiving: Innovation Directions in Wholistic, Spiritually Empowered Pastoral Care & Counseling in the 21st Century."
WHY? Such an annual program would serve the basic purposes of both CST & TCI in ways such as these:
WHEN? Because the need for such a program is so great, it is imperative that the process of perfecting the guiding vision & then moving ahead in implementing it occur ASAP in the near future! HOW? Such a program could become a reality in the following ways:
GOOD NEWS: I have discussed this dream with
several people and received very positive feedback & helpful suggestions for
strengthening it. I have a tentative list of people who might be interested in
serving on one of the task forced. YOUR FEEDBACK IS NEEDED. PLEASE
TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK OF MY DREAM.
A book, "HUNKERING DOWN: My Story in Four Decades of Clinical Pastoral Education," authored by Tom Summers was published in March 2000. Tom, who was involved with the founding days of the PCNSR and on its board for the first seven years, is a retired CPE supervisor living in South Carolina. This volume is an autobiographical integration of his personal journey with the forty years of his vocational ministry and teaching in the mental health context. A special emphasis in the 235-page book is the described evolution of his interest in meshing together the principles of pastoral care and social justice. The publisher's and book's website can be visited on the Internet at: www.edistopress.com. The price of the book is $14.95, plus mailing charges. It can be ordered from Edisto Press, 3017 Kilkee Circle, Columbia SC 29223; or from an order form at the website; or fax: (803)788-6950; or e-mail: Tomsumm@aol.com.
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