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

Monday, September 29, 2008

Daily Devotions - Monday, September 29

Providers of Compassion

“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

How would you define compassion? In the health care field at HRH we do our work in a specific way. We do our work compassionately. What does this mean?

It means that we are first and foremost passionate people. We have a love within us that pervades our spirit and moves us to acts of mercy for and with people who seek health care services.

Compassion can be demonstrated in any field of work, not just health care. Daily we should take a serious look at ourselves. Are we/ Will we continue to demonstrate the value of compassion when all of a sudden we are faced with difficult challenges? It is important to keep our action focused on the value of compassion. As we continue to be providers of compassion we will stand in solidarity with the people with whom we work and associate.

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: God, empower me to be a provider of compassion. Amen.

Ben Keckler
09.29.08

Friday, September 26, 2008

Daily Devotions - Friday, September 26

A Simple Prayer

I am here in need,
I am here in pain,
I am here in straits,
I am here alone.
O God, aid me.

Have a good day. May this day and your entire weekend be filled with God.

Ben Keckler
09.26.08

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Daily Devotions - Thursday, September 25

Devotions of Gratitude

Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them,
‘Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth…
I now establish my covenant with you and your descendants’…

--From the story of Noah (Genesis 9, selected verses)

In a few weeks I will celebrate a wonderful moment. I have to share its significance with you. 80 years ago my grandfather (Ben Keckler, Sr.) was ordained as a minister. My father (“Junior” as his brothers and sisters knew him) is still an active ordained minister and, of course, Ben 3rd is writing this devotional after 35 years of active ordained ministry. Just as the story of family and covenant relationship with God is told in the Noah story, so centuries later I can tell a story of God’s blessing. I am grateful for family.

I think of people listening to more than 1,500 sermons delivered by three generations with the name Ben Keckler. I think about the hundreds of weddings and even more funerals. I think about the more than 30,000 plus home and hospital visits that grandpa, dad and I have had the privilege of experiencing. I think of the literally thousands of people who have invited us into their lives to share God’s covenant love with them.

I am filled with gratitude today for a loving God, a faithful family and a wonderful heritage. Believe me when I tell you that God is good. In the midst of all the STUFF we go through, I can honestly tell you that God is in love with this world and will not keep it a secret. Have a great day.

A prayer: Thank you, God, for the gift of family and the gift of your love. Amen.

Ben Keckler
09.25.08

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Daily Devotions - Wednesday, September 24

Devotions of Gratitude

Do not forsake your friend….
--A wisdom phrase (Proverbs 27:10)

One of the joys of life can be found at tailgate parties all across our land. Some tailgates are on Friday evening – high school events; some are on Saturday – college events; and some are on Sunday – professional events. For a number of years our family purchased season tickets from our football college of choice and had different friends join us for each weekend.

I still remember the weekend when our very special friends from Pennsylvania joined us for a victory over the Irish. Some years ago our sons were offensive linemen for their high school championship team and their son went on to a very wonderful career at Cornell University. The great part of the weekend was that we were able to pick up right where we left off. While we do stay in touch through e-mail and occasional phone visits, it was really super to spend the weekend laughing and filling in the details of recent years. Friendship is very special!

Next month some very special friends will arrive in Indianapolis and we will celebrate their daughter's wedding. We won't tailgate this time, but once again we will enjoy the gift of friendship.

Honoring the gift of friendship is important. It takes commitment and energy, but the feeling in the heart at the conclusion of a great weekend is difficult to match. Enjoy the friends you have and expand your circle of friends. You will be surrounded by one of life’s great treasures.

A prayer: Thank you, God, for the gift of friendship. Accept my gratitude today.

Ben Keckler
09.24.08