A Life of Gratitude

What I learned from Dr. Taybi: A life of gratitude

“Before I ventured forth,

even while I was very young,

   I sought wisdom openly in my prayer.” Ecclesiasticus 51:13.

As I say prayers today for refugees and those trying to immigrate to our country, I find the previous note from Dr. Hooshang Taybi from 2006 that was on Daily Something yesterday. Dr. Taybi wrote the letter three weeks before he died, responding to my email about the news of his terminal illness. If you are a radiologist or pediatrician, you will remember Dr. Taybi, best known for his study of children with difficulties that become part of a syndrome. He was acclaimed professionally for his encyclopedic memory of over 100 journals he read, leading to his classic textbook, The Radiology of Syndromes. But I most remember his kindness, humbleness, and caring for others, empowering others, never too important to spend time with you.

A colleague shares a phrase from Dr. Taybi’s favorite Persian poem, “The best way to show your gratitude for having a strong arm is to extend a helping hand to the weak.”1

I see a life of a brilliant man who, close to his death, still expresses gratitude for those who helped him over 50 years before. Dr. Taybi still empowers us today by telling stories of children with illnesses, stories of how he was empowered, and gratitude for all who touched his life, even to the end. I continue to see daily the difference gratitude can make in a person’s life. So today, I will try to remember and give thanks for those who empowered me, and pray that I can pass empowerment and gratitude on to others. I also want to remember Dr. Taybi’s story of the many strangers who helped him and made a difference in his life. I hope to do this for those who come to our country, like Dr. Taybi, for a new life.

I also remember that if a travel ban had been in place for Muslim countries such as Iran, Dr. Taybi would never have come to his America. I think of all of us whose lives would not have been touched by his, especially the children and their parents, who would have missed his medical expertise.

1Ron Cohen, Charles Gooding, “Memorial Hooshang Taybi,” in AJR, 187:1382-1383, 2006.

Joanna   https://www.joannaseibert.com/

A Letter from Dr. Taybi

A Letter from Dr. Taybi

I received this letter from a refugee from Iran before he died:

Rev. Joanna J. Seibert: 

Dear Joanna (please call me Hoosh):

Thank you very much for a very kind email. Your encouragement is most appreciated. I have accepted my illness and have no trouble dealing with the situation, thanks primarily to the support of my loving wife, Alice, and my children.

I am so thankful for all the opportunities I have been given by my mentors, friends, and, many times, strangers in this country. Your kindness and reading your email brings me back to 1946, when I was a practicing pediatrician in the city of Hamedan in Iran. An American missionary had a small hospital and clinic headed by a young American, Dr. Frame. I told him one day, I was planning to go to America and get more education. A son of a missionary, he spoke Farsi fluently. I told him I wanted to learn “American.” He taught me a few words in “American” [English].

When I left Iran, Mrs. Frame gave me a letter to deliver to her parents, the Andersons. I arrived in New York City in December 1948, just before Christmas, and found my way in Manhattan to the Andersons’ apartment. Mr. Anderson took me to New York University, met with Professor Tobin, the Dean of Students, and enrolled me in English class. Andersons were missionaries, having spent many years in South America’s jungles. 

Their kindness did not end here. Many times they invited me to their home, and I spent the 1949 Christmas at their home in New Jersey. The Frames moved back to USA and Dr. Frame had a practice in New York City. It was in 1964 when we gave a course in Pediatric Radiology at Indiana University Medical Center. I sent an invitation for Dr. Frame to come as my guest and attend the course. He could not come. But in a nice note stated: “I see your ‘American’ has much improved,” referring to my use of American instead of English in 1948!! This type of kindness is unforgettable. To the end of my life I shall remember what they did for a man from another land and another culture. Two of the Anderson photographs from my album are attached.

I appreciate very much your family remembering meeting this old friend. Please extend my regards to them and I hope we meet again at another SPR gathering.

Hoosh

Pathway of Discernment

Grisham: Ignatian Method of Discernment, Peace of God

Guest Writer Lowell Grisham

No one has done more work on the discipline of discernment than the Jesuits, the monastic descendants of Ignatius of Loyola. Although I can’t recall who taught it to me, for many years, I’ve used an Ignatian discernment method from time to time when I’ve faced a choice between two options. Here’s the way it was given to me:

In a battle in the early 1500s, Ignatius was seriously wounded. (I believe an artillery shell shattered his leg.) He spent months of painful convalescence. However, he found that his pain was sometimes relieved when he went into periods of active imagination. He imagined what his life would be when he was healed and released from the hospital. He made up stories about his future life, using all his senses to place himself in the future. He created scenes from his imagined future and experienced them vividly—with sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell—thinking and feeling what his alternative life might be. 

Whenever Ignatius was actively imagining, his pain decreased, and the time seemed to pass more quickly. He discovered that his imagination gravitated toward two narratives. In one narrative, he would experience becoming a great, chivalrous knight, doing valiant deeds of courage, and winning the hand of a noble maiden. In the other narrative, he would experience becoming a knight for Christ, boldly taking the gospel into the most remote, challenging, or needed places.

While in active imagination, Ignatius experienced relief with either narrative. But he noticed a significant difference in where his spirit went afterward, when he was just taking care of business in a normal state of consciousness.

He noticed in the hours following his narratives about becoming a noble warrior knight that he experienced a sense of turbulence, discomfort, and even desolation. But he became aware in the hours following his imagining of becoming a knight for Christ that he experienced a sense of consolation, harmony, and peace. Ignatius interpreted the sense of peace as the presence of God, drawing him into God’s will for him and helping him discern the direction of his future. So he embraced the vision of that second narrative and became a noble knight for Christ, seeking to undertake the greatest service possible to the Church and the world.

The presence of peace is a sign of God’s will. In the chaos and storm of a decision, I sometimes use a form of Ignatian discernment practice when there are two potential options or directions. First, I’ll set the two options before me. Then, one day, I will spend some time actively imagining myself living into the first option, using all five senses to create scenes from that future possibility. Then I will go about my regular daily activity, but I’ll keep a bit of attention directed to notice where my spirit goes. Another day, I’ll spend time in active imagination living into the other option. Then I will pay attention to my spirit, mood, and intuition during the ordinary business. What after-effect is there following each separate scenario?

If I sense some form of consolation and peace in the ordinary time following active imagination with one narrative, and if I perceive turbulence in the ordinary time following imagination with the other narrative, I’ll accept that as a sign of God’s will. The presence of peace is key. 

Where does the peace of Christ lead us, especially when our boat seems tossed, and we’ve lost control of our direction? A sense of peace can give direction toward God’s will for us and for the fullest exercise of our creativity, courage, freedom, and service. Sometimes a little active imagination can lead us toward discernment.

Lowell Grisham

When someone comes for a visit for discernment, this is what I first offer. It was loaned to me by Lowell Grisham, retired Rector of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Joanna https://www.joannaseibert.com/