During my Friday morning shift at our clinic, a patient tried to force the chair in the far right corner to recline without using the lever to unlock it first. He was a big man and ... so it worked. However, the back of the chair broke off. He was mortified and I could tell it was difficult for him to relax and enjoy the rest of his treatment in another chair. It seemed like he created a rather inconvenient situation for us at the clinic but what happened as a result of this accident reminded me of the power of what we are doing at the clinic: the power of community.

After said patient left, Helen made an out of order sign with a sad face to put on the chair so that other patients wouldn't inadvertently sit on it and fall. Perhaps it was the strategically placed sad face, but people readily responded to the broken chair in such a way that 5 hours later, a nice new recliner was sitting in its place ready to comfort an endless number of people needing relief and healing.

The first person to respond was a patient who covets our zero-gravity chairs. Upon seeing the sign, she offered to take it off our hands to attempt to fix it for personal use. We helped it out to her car and fingers crossed, it will be bring her much enjoyment at home. Another couple upon noticing the sign offered to pay for a replacement. They said it doesn't matter how much the replacement is, they want to support the clinic with a donation but requested to stay anonymous. After my shift, I found a recliner on Craigslist only 2 blocks away. I dashed over with my station wagon. Woman selling recliner was so grateful to sell it and I told her about the good use it will be put to at the clinic. She helped me out to my car with it. I soon realized I couldn't get it in the back of my station wagon--it didn't fit. An onlooker, seeing my dilemma volunteered to help out. He just happened to have a truck on hand and offered to drive it to the clinic. When we arrived to the clinic, he helped me carry it inside. We got to talking about acupuncture. He loves acupuncture but hasn't been able to afford it. I offered him our services in exchange for his kindness and it was a lovely exchange. His name is Jerry and he is very kind, salt-of-the-earth type of man.

A community of people have stepped in to help us in our mission to spread healing through Chinese medicine and through community. That community includes every single one of you, all of our patients, and the local community of people that support one another just because. I am filled with deep gratitude and wanted to share this story. The amazing thing about this story is the illustration that the giving and receiving is the same. Everyone involved offered something and received something -- a chair, acupuncture, a feeling of supporting one another. It is a beautiful thing. And the man that initially broke the chair? He may have spent the rest of the day feeling bad but after I relay this story to him, I'm sure he will realize it was a beautiful thing. :)  There are no accidents.  

In community and gratitude ...