Pieces of the Puzzle
“He asked, ‘Who is my neighbor?’”
--A question posed to Jesus (Luke 10:29)
“To deny ourselves the knowledge even of a single person
is to lose the central piece of the jigsaw puzzle.”
--Leo Buscaglia (The Way of the Bull), p. 35
A number of years ago Mr. Buscaglia took a wonderful journey through Asia assimilating their traditions into his understanding about the mystery of life. In Asia the bull symbolically represents life. So, another way to title the book could be The Way of Life. Today we will journey with Leo. The rest of the week I will tell some stories about my travels in Rwanda where I learned some lessons about life.
Leo tells the story of two people, Mack and Pricha, from his experiences in Thailand to illustrate today’s point. Shortly after arriving at his “culturally acceptable, but quite unacceptable accommodations,” he met a man named Mack who was in Thailand on business. Mack was tied to his Western ways and didn’t really want to understand the Thai culture as much as to exploit the people of the culture. He learned a method of survival from Mack. The next week, Leo met Pricha who was a native Thai. During his week with Pricha, he grew to understand and appreciate the people, the customs and the cuisine of Thailand. He learned hospitality increases one’s awareness of things that are truly valuable.
Everyone helps us with the puzzle. Doing our job (like Mack) may only help us survive. Practicing the way of hospitality (like Pricha) may open new opportunities that we never dreamed of. May you have a good week, enriched by the people who grace your life.
A prayer: As I work on my puzzle, show me the people I need to encounter. Amen.
Ben Keckler
10.06.08
Monday, October 6, 2008
Friday, October 3, 2008
Daily Devotions - Friday, October 3
Up-to-Date Facilities
“Our values state that we will provide compassionate health care services through quality improvement. Part of continuous quality improvement is investigating ways we can better serve our community by keeping our facilities up-to-date.”
--Dennis Dawes, president/ CEO of Hendricks Regional Health
I work in a health care facility. My employer, Hendricks Regional Health, is committed to keeping our facilities up-to-date and state-of-the-art. I am blessed to work in a wonderful environment that provides quality care.
When we think about up-to-date facilities, it is important to take some time in introspection. What learning have I done this week to make me a better “facility” in life? What reading am I doing to help me be “up-to-date” or “state of the art”? What plan am I making so the work I do tomorrow will be better than the work I do today?
Stephen Covey, author of Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, would call this kind of self-renewal “Sharpening the Saw”. Personal commitment to keeping our personal self up-to-date is a critical component to healthy living.
Have a good weekend.
“Let your light shine before others,
so that they may see your good works
and give glory to God.”
--Jesus, as recorded by Matthew (5:16)
A Prayer: Holy God, guide me in the way of self-renewal. Amen.
Ben Keckler
10.03.08
“Our values state that we will provide compassionate health care services through quality improvement. Part of continuous quality improvement is investigating ways we can better serve our community by keeping our facilities up-to-date.”
--Dennis Dawes, president/ CEO of Hendricks Regional Health
I work in a health care facility. My employer, Hendricks Regional Health, is committed to keeping our facilities up-to-date and state-of-the-art. I am blessed to work in a wonderful environment that provides quality care.
When we think about up-to-date facilities, it is important to take some time in introspection. What learning have I done this week to make me a better “facility” in life? What reading am I doing to help me be “up-to-date” or “state of the art”? What plan am I making so the work I do tomorrow will be better than the work I do today?
Stephen Covey, author of Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, would call this kind of self-renewal “Sharpening the Saw”. Personal commitment to keeping our personal self up-to-date is a critical component to healthy living.
Have a good weekend.
“Let your light shine before others,
so that they may see your good works
and give glory to God.”
--Jesus, as recorded by Matthew (5:16)
A Prayer: Holy God, guide me in the way of self-renewal. Amen.
Ben Keckler
10.03.08
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Daily Devotions - Thursday, October 2
Service to Others
“Our values state that we will provide compassionate health care services through quality improvement. Part of continuous quality improvement is investigating ways we can better serve our community by keeping our facilities up-to-date.”
--Dennis Dawes, president/ CEO of Hendricks Regional Health
As you take a few moments of devotional time today, I’d encourage you to spend time wrestling with this question: “How does my life demonstrate an attitude of service to others?”
Each of us has an opportunity to better serve others through our lives – at work, at school, with friends, with acquaintances.
Susan Hedahl, in her book Listening Ministry, says, “Good listening will allow us to hear the passion, love and complexity of ourselves and the world around us.” I would add that good listening is the greatest service we can offer. Countless times I hear people say, “Thanks for listening. I’m starting to feel better just because you listened.” Engaging in active listening with another will lead us to the best ways we can be of service to others.
Active listening is an opportunity for “service to others.”
“Let your light shine before others,
so that they may see your good works
and give glory to God.”
--Jesus, as recorded by Matthew (5:16)
A Prayer: Holy God, show me ways of service to others through my words, my thoughts and my deeds. Amen.
Ben Keckler
10.02.08
“Our values state that we will provide compassionate health care services through quality improvement. Part of continuous quality improvement is investigating ways we can better serve our community by keeping our facilities up-to-date.”
--Dennis Dawes, president/ CEO of Hendricks Regional Health
As you take a few moments of devotional time today, I’d encourage you to spend time wrestling with this question: “How does my life demonstrate an attitude of service to others?”
Each of us has an opportunity to better serve others through our lives – at work, at school, with friends, with acquaintances.
Susan Hedahl, in her book Listening Ministry, says, “Good listening will allow us to hear the passion, love and complexity of ourselves and the world around us.” I would add that good listening is the greatest service we can offer. Countless times I hear people say, “Thanks for listening. I’m starting to feel better just because you listened.” Engaging in active listening with another will lead us to the best ways we can be of service to others.
Active listening is an opportunity for “service to others.”
“Let your light shine before others,
so that they may see your good works
and give glory to God.”
--Jesus, as recorded by Matthew (5:16)
A Prayer: Holy God, show me ways of service to others through my words, my thoughts and my deeds. Amen.
Ben Keckler
10.02.08
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Daily Devotions - Wednesday, October 1
Continuous Quality Improvement
“Our values state that we will provide compassionate health care services through quality improvement. Part of continuous quality improvement is investigating ways we can better serve our community by keeping our facilities up-to-date.”
--Dennis Dawes, president/ CEO of Hendricks Regional Health
Can something (a program, a department, an employee, an institution, a service, etc.) that is evaluated as delivering a quality “product” improve? If something is labeled as having “new, improved quality”, is it possible for continuous refinement and improvement of the “product”?
The above quote from the president of a health care organization suggests that no matter the quality of the services delivered, there is always the possibility of improvement. By learning how to examine each and every action within our specific workplace, we open the door for continuous quality improvement.
Some days it is pretty easy to come to the workplace and go through the routines of the shift. Why not add a question to the normal rhythms of the day. Add a question like “Might there be a better way of doing or saying or performing this task?” Or “Is there the possibility of making a minor (or major) change in the delivery of service, thereby creating a better finished product?”
This is the work called “continuous quality improvement.” I believe that such answers come to us when we listen for the Holy One to inspire us.
“Let your light shine before others,
so that they may see your good works
and give glory to God.”
--Jesus, as recorded by Matthew (5:16)
A Prayer: Holy God, teach me to be more attentive to the importance of continuous quality improvement. Amen.
Ben Keckler
10.01.08
“Our values state that we will provide compassionate health care services through quality improvement. Part of continuous quality improvement is investigating ways we can better serve our community by keeping our facilities up-to-date.”
--Dennis Dawes, president/ CEO of Hendricks Regional Health
Can something (a program, a department, an employee, an institution, a service, etc.) that is evaluated as delivering a quality “product” improve? If something is labeled as having “new, improved quality”, is it possible for continuous refinement and improvement of the “product”?
The above quote from the president of a health care organization suggests that no matter the quality of the services delivered, there is always the possibility of improvement. By learning how to examine each and every action within our specific workplace, we open the door for continuous quality improvement.
Some days it is pretty easy to come to the workplace and go through the routines of the shift. Why not add a question to the normal rhythms of the day. Add a question like “Might there be a better way of doing or saying or performing this task?” Or “Is there the possibility of making a minor (or major) change in the delivery of service, thereby creating a better finished product?”
This is the work called “continuous quality improvement.” I believe that such answers come to us when we listen for the Holy One to inspire us.
“Let your light shine before others,
so that they may see your good works
and give glory to God.”
--Jesus, as recorded by Matthew (5:16)
A Prayer: Holy God, teach me to be more attentive to the importance of continuous quality improvement. Amen.
Ben Keckler
10.01.08
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Daily Devotions - September 30
What are “health care services?”
“Our values state that we will provide compassionate health care services through quality improvement. Part of continuous quality improvement is investigating ways we can better serve our community by keeping our facilities up-to-date.”
--Dennis Dawes, president/ CEO of Hendricks Regional Health
I work in a health care facility. This devotion may seem specific to health care facilities, but take the concept and apply it to your work, your situation, your life.
It is pretty easy to think of health care services in terms of ICU staff providing special attention to a person on a ventilator. It is pretty easy to think of health care services in terms of the work that is provided by caregivers on any of the floor units. It is pretty easy to think about care giving in terms of the personal attention that a person receives at an immediate care facility, a Cancer Center or the doctor’s office. But health care services are more than the things that come to mind so quickly.
• Health Care Services include the tremendous work of the support services team—I always enjoy watching staff dry mopping the tile floors and stopping at every “black scuffmark” on the floor. They take this tennis ball that is fastened to a stick and in an instant the scuffmark is removed. Our support services provide us with clean facilities and this makes a real impression on consumers.
• Health Care Services include volunteers who willingly contribute their time and talent because they want to be here! Weekly I observe volunteers go the extra mile just to make certain that persons find the place to receive their needed “health care service.”
• Health Care Services include everything that happens in those facilities. Here at HRH we can be pleased to advertise that we have “state-of-the-art” facilities. From my vantage point we have “state-of-the-art” health care services.
“Let your light shine before others,
so that they may see your good works
and give glory to God.”
--Jesus, as recorded by Matthew (5:16)
A Prayer: Holy God, teach me the significance of my role in life. Amen.
Ben Keckler
09.30.08
“Our values state that we will provide compassionate health care services through quality improvement. Part of continuous quality improvement is investigating ways we can better serve our community by keeping our facilities up-to-date.”
--Dennis Dawes, president/ CEO of Hendricks Regional Health
I work in a health care facility. This devotion may seem specific to health care facilities, but take the concept and apply it to your work, your situation, your life.
It is pretty easy to think of health care services in terms of ICU staff providing special attention to a person on a ventilator. It is pretty easy to think of health care services in terms of the work that is provided by caregivers on any of the floor units. It is pretty easy to think about care giving in terms of the personal attention that a person receives at an immediate care facility, a Cancer Center or the doctor’s office. But health care services are more than the things that come to mind so quickly.
• Health Care Services include the tremendous work of the support services team—I always enjoy watching staff dry mopping the tile floors and stopping at every “black scuffmark” on the floor. They take this tennis ball that is fastened to a stick and in an instant the scuffmark is removed. Our support services provide us with clean facilities and this makes a real impression on consumers.
• Health Care Services include volunteers who willingly contribute their time and talent because they want to be here! Weekly I observe volunteers go the extra mile just to make certain that persons find the place to receive their needed “health care service.”
• Health Care Services include everything that happens in those facilities. Here at HRH we can be pleased to advertise that we have “state-of-the-art” facilities. From my vantage point we have “state-of-the-art” health care services.
“Let your light shine before others,
so that they may see your good works
and give glory to God.”
--Jesus, as recorded by Matthew (5:16)
A Prayer: Holy God, teach me the significance of my role in life. Amen.
Ben Keckler
09.30.08
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
