COLUMN: Grey Matters – Inspirations for well-being

This summer, my church hosted a series called Inspirations for Well-Being. People shared things that contribute to their well-being, including backyard gardening, music, painting, wilderness experiences, and being in community. The series culminated last week with a reflection on the source behind all these inspirations: God the Creator and people.

God is amazing. People are amazing, especially those who rise from the ashes and create something beautiful.

Before continuing, I should offer a disclaimer: this article is not about comparing ourselves to others or becoming jealous of their accomplishments. Hence the title is Inspirations for Well-Being, not Jealousy for Depression.

Over the years, many people have inspired me. Some are well-known public figures, while others are people I have encountered personally. Their stories remind me of the resilience, creativity, and courage that human beings are capable of.

One person who has personally inspired me is Gail Thiessen. Gail founded the TESOL program at Providence Seminary. As Providence explains:

“In 1989, when Gail Thiessen arrived at what was then Winnipeg Bible College, she did not yet realize she would pioneer one of the school’s most influential programs… Her idea was simple but profound: if English had become a global language, and if Christian service required both skill and cultural sensitivity, then it made sense to train Christian teachers to teach English effectively. With that vision, she approached the administration and proposed a course in TESOL. To her delight, not only was the idea welcomed, but it soon flourished. What began as a single course rapidly expanded into a full-fledged certificate program, and later, a master’s degree in TESOL”.

In 1997, I enrolled in Gail’s one-month intensive TESOL certificate program. It was intense. Yet from the very beginning, she prepared us well.

“Drink eight cups of water, eat a hearty breakfast, and exercise regularly!” she encouraged us on the first day.

She wasn’t concerned only about course content. She also cared deeply about the well-being of her students. I learned many valuable skills, including the important ability to read more efficiently, as well as a way of approaching life that still helps me today.

Her former student and now successor, Elfrieda Lepp-Kaethler, described Gail’s impact beautifully: “She saw something in me that I didn’t even see in myself. She believed in her students in a way that made us believe in ourselves.”

People who overcome suffering and tragedy also inspire me. Gerontologist Jane Marie Thibault tells the story of a woman named Helen who lived with constant pain and yet volunteered regularly in her community. When Thibault asked how she continued to serve despite her pain, Helen replied:

“You are right, I am in pain. And every morning I have the same decision to make. Will I force myself to experience even more pain in the process of getting up, or will I let myself lie in bed for the day? Believe me, it is no easy decision to make, because I have the freedom not to get up. But I force myself to go through the pain, to experience it fully, and to go beyond it. I say to myself that I have the choice of being in pain here in my bed or as a volunteer at the Kentucky Center for the Arts. Believe me, I’d rather be in pain at the center than in my bedroom. And do you know what? After I’ve been there for a half hour or so, the pain is much, much less. Sometimes I forget about it completely!”

Thibault explains that this process is what gerontologists call body transcendence, a significant developmental task in later life. It is not an easy accomplishment.

Sometimes the most inspiring acts are the simplest ones, if we take the time to notice them.

At one place where I worked, there was a resident who, with considerable effort, could transfer from her bedroom recliner to a wheelchair. We would often chat about the day as I waited to take her to chapel. Over time, the transfer required every ounce of strength she had.

As I watched, words seemed less important. Instead, I stood in sacred silence, ready to help if needed. My spirit was moved by her determination, and it no longer felt right to chit-chat. In those moments, the transfer became something more than a routine task. It became a lesson in courage and perseverance.

Just like Gail, Helen, and countless others, she remains an inspiration to me.

Inspirations are all around us. We need only take the time to cherish them.

Gary Dyck is a chaplain and spiritual care provider at a hospital and personal care home in the Southeast.