Letter from the President and CEO January 2024
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
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Dear Reader,
Each year, MLK Day offers us not only the chance to reflect on the life and legacy of one of the United States’ great visionaries and leaders, but also to renew our commitment to the values that he embodied and our dedication to enacting them. These are the values of courage, truth, justice, compassion, dignity, humility, and service. These aspirational principles are not only important from the perspective of each of us as individuals, although it is valuable to understand the ways in which oneself fosters them (or not) in daily life. Additionally, because so much of life is defined by the policies and activities of groups of people working together, we should regularly consider how these groups - our institutions and social units - advance them, be they corporations, schools, non-profits, political entities, clubs, or families.
The late Rabbi Samuel E. Karff, another civil rights luminary and a former emeritus trustee at the Institute, once remarked that “No human interaction is neutral - it is either healing or harmful.” In the same way, if an institution is not actively engaged in advancing the above principles, then it is at risk of undermining them. This MLK Weekend, I am reflecting on how the Institute for Spirituality and Health enacts the above values, and what we can do to more fully embrace them.
Regarding courage, I believe that in a world often driven by rapidly advancing technology and an ever-evolving scientific materialist paradigm, it takes a great deal of courage to overtly recognize and call attention to the deep, unseen spiritual currents that shape life. While several Texas Medical Center institutions carry values infused with spiritual and religious concepts, the Institute stands out as the only one whose mission is fully oriented towards recognizing that humans are spiritual beings, and that healthcare is incomplete without tending to this reality. I applaud all those who support the Institute through your gifts of time, talent, and treasure, because these are investments in a cause that is central to the greatest issues of our time - the cause of the human spirit. Furthermore, it is vital to recognize that it requires a great deal of vulnerability to engage matters pertaining to spirituality and health, so we recognize the courage of those we serve, including clients of The Women’s Home, those in our Bereavement Groups, members of Diabetes Peer Support groups, elders living in long-term care settings, and many others.
As we move through the weekend, I plan to consider the other values, too. Our commitment to truth is evident in our embrace of multiple perspectives and diverse stakeholders, and our work alongside those who are isolated, disconnected, and distrustful of health systems speaks to a recognition that we are aligned with the cause of health justice and the advancement of dignity for all people. To witness the work of the volunteers for the Interfaith Spiritual Care Coalition is to witness compassion in action. And, while this letter is an outward expression of the Institute’s accomplishments and values, it is my sincere hope that the perception of our organization and those who work here is of one of humility and an ever-learning, self-reflective attitude.
May we walk together to be stewards of the legacy of Dr. King, not only on this national day of recognition, but every day.
With Peace,
Stuart
Stuart C. Nelson
President and CEO