I’ve spent the last week in Guatemala City, volunteering with Patch Adams and a group of twenty other people from several different countries. Other than Patch I’m the only physician in the group, and the volunteering is not related to medicine, but it is definitely related to “healing.”
I’ve been a clown. Dressed up as clowns, we go to hospitals, homes for children and adults with disabilities, nursing homes, etc. We are breaking down barriers, laughing, hugging and loving people who may not have experienced this kind of love or compassionate human touch for a long time. While I know we’re giving something very special to the people we’re touching, I believe that we’re getting back even more from them.
It’s been such a fascinating week on so many levels– I’m not even sure how to begin to describe it. I’ve always considered myself to be a loving person, but the degree of love I’ve been sharing and receiving over this past week has transcended anything I’ve known before.
I originally got inspired to come on this trip out of a desire to meet Patch Adams—a true “Doctor On Purpose.” Clowning was not really on my bucket list, but when I learned about the trip, something told me I should just jump and do it. I have not only met Patch, but have developed an immense admiration and affection for him. I believe we are now lifelong friends.
The other volunteers in the group range in age from 19 to 65. We quickly bonded and are sharing all of the joys and sorrows that are inherent in this type of trip. There are no age barriers. I’m developing relationships with 19 and 20 year olds that feel as genuine and substantial as relationships I’ve had for years with people of my own age (I’m 49.) We are just a group of people dedicated to learning new ways to live authentically, be of genuine service and share our passions and gifts. By chance, we have created a sort of Utopia here, in the heart of Guatemala City. In a couple days we will all go our separate ways and return to our own lives, though we will all carry with us an expanded awareness of what is possible, and what we want to work toward creating in our lives and in the world around us.
I have also been blessed by the relationships with the resident Guatemala clown group, Fabrica de Sonrisas (the Smile Makers). This is a literal army of over 2000 young adults who are trained in the art of clowning and volunteer their time to bring joy, love and compassion to those who need it most. I have never met a group of people more loving and joyful. I have never hugged so much and deeply engaged with so many truly open, generous and genuine people. It has been so moving to be a part of this tribe.
As an emergency physician for the past 20 years I’ve seen plenty of tragedy and sad situations. I’ve never seen anything as tragic and depressing as what I’m seeing here in Guatemala. I know that there are similar (even worse) conditions in other parts of the world, though I haven’t personally witnessed them.
Here in Guatemala, there are so many children and adults with terminal medical conditions (like HIV), severe mental retardation, cerebral palsy and other debilities who are placed in institutions and are never seen by their parents again. Some of their parents are dead or in jail. With very limited funding available to provide for them, these people are often living in extremely primitive conditions and isolation.
For them, having a friendly, loving connection is such a rare gift. Understanding this, there have been several days when I just sat with one or two individuals and massaged them, hugged them and made them feel loved, if just for 30 minutes. It’s hard to know for sure, because no one is measuring it, but I firmly believe that this loving touch and attention makes a big difference and is a model for how we can become better healers and caretakers for all people, worldwide.
I don’t know how this experience will influence my future. I don’t feel a real need to know right now. What I do know is that I am more inspired than ever to help other people connect deeply with their own essence, and learning to love themselves more deeply, so that creating loving connections with others and being of greater service to the world becomes a totally natural expression of who they know themselves to be.