Caregiving in Action!
Here in Central Indiana most communities have had or are about to have their Relays for Life, a 24 hour event held in behalf of the work done by the American Cancer Society. I hope you have taken time to participate in a Relay for Life. None of us know if or when cancer might have a direct impact on our life. Personally, I know the effects of cancer in my own family and weekly I encounter people who are dealing with the chaos of cancer.
This week we've focused on caregiving. I hope that you would consider participation in a Relay for Life as a way that you can practice caregiving in a concentrated 24 hour time frame, a time frame filled with exercise, joy, tears, celebration, grief and hope; hope that, by making a strong commitment to caregiving in action, cancers of every kind will have a cure.
To all of you who have spent time in Relays for Life this year, let me personally say THANK YOU! To you who will take this challenge as something to integrate into your 2009 commitments, GOD BLESS YOU!
Caregiving in Action, that is the opportunity we have before us!
Ben Keckler
Friday, June 6, 2008
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Daily Devotions - Thursday, June 5
The Practice of Caregiving!
A reading for today: 1 Corinthians 13: 13
“I believe in people who care.
If these souls did not perform their roles in the way they do,
Then in a very real sense the Word would not be made flesh.
The Love would not be made visible
And the Hope would not be made genuine.
Yet because such committed caregivers are among us,
We know the world is not just a better place
But ours is a better time and we are a better people.
We know that because those who truly care show us,
Day after day after day.”
--James Miller
Today’s devotional thought focuses on the concluding words from Jim Miller’s “Affirmation of Those Who Care”. Jim is a Christian minister and so he talks about the Word being made flesh. That is comfortable language, understandable language for Christians. To broaden the statement to a wider theological perspective, his statement could be paraphrased,
“If caregivers did not perform their roles in the way they do,
then in a very real sense God would not touch the lives of humanity.”
The statement may seem a bit bold and it may cause a bit of doctrinal controversy, but it is a statement worthy of some sincere reflection. The compassion that you demonstrate is important. Compassionate words, thoughts and deeds are the very things that make for better times in the lives of patients, families and all humanity.
Have an even better day in caregiving!
A prayer for today: God of this day, grace me with sensitivity as I perform my duties.
Ben Keckler
06.05.08
Editor’s note: Mr. Keckler serves as a hospital Director of Chaplaincy in the greater Indianapolis area.
A reading for today: 1 Corinthians 13: 13
“I believe in people who care.
If these souls did not perform their roles in the way they do,
Then in a very real sense the Word would not be made flesh.
The Love would not be made visible
And the Hope would not be made genuine.
Yet because such committed caregivers are among us,
We know the world is not just a better place
But ours is a better time and we are a better people.
We know that because those who truly care show us,
Day after day after day.”
--James Miller
Today’s devotional thought focuses on the concluding words from Jim Miller’s “Affirmation of Those Who Care”. Jim is a Christian minister and so he talks about the Word being made flesh. That is comfortable language, understandable language for Christians. To broaden the statement to a wider theological perspective, his statement could be paraphrased,
“If caregivers did not perform their roles in the way they do,
then in a very real sense God would not touch the lives of humanity.”
The statement may seem a bit bold and it may cause a bit of doctrinal controversy, but it is a statement worthy of some sincere reflection. The compassion that you demonstrate is important. Compassionate words, thoughts and deeds are the very things that make for better times in the lives of patients, families and all humanity.
Have an even better day in caregiving!
A prayer for today: God of this day, grace me with sensitivity as I perform my duties.
Ben Keckler
06.05.08
Editor’s note: Mr. Keckler serves as a hospital Director of Chaplaincy in the greater Indianapolis area.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Daily Devotions - Wednesday, June 4
The Practice of Caregiving!
A reading for today: Luke 5: 17-26
“I believe in people who care.
What these empathetic people do requires real courage,
For they do not know how they will be received,
Or if they will be understood.
What they give requires great perseverance,
For healing is a time-consuming process,
And staying with others in their pain
Is an energy-draining experience.”
--James Miller
We continue to focus on Jim Miller’s, “An Affirmation of Those Who Care”. Today we view an interesting passage of Sacred Scripture and, as we do, pay particular attention to the men who were presenting their friend for healing.
Courage is present each time we enter the room, the space of another. Courage because we choose to be available without knowing the exact need. Courage because our presence could feel like an invasion of privacy. Courage because we may need to say the difficult word. Courage because we may need to perform a pain producing task. Courage because…………..… The list of ways caregivers demonstrate courage is a long list.
The gift of perseverance is a gift demonstrated many times in many ways by primary and secondary caregivers and also by all sorts of ancillary people. “We will until” is a possible motto for those whose role is caregiving. The Sacred Scripture story demonstrates that. The men, in effect, are saying: “OK, if they won’t let us in the door, we will carry him onto the roof, we’ll cut a hole in the roof, we’ll tie some rope on the handles and we’ll lower him down through the opening.” They were willing to be drained of their energy because the need of their friend was great.
Blessings to you today as you continue the courageous work of caregiving.
A prayer for today: Holy God, grant me courage and the ability to persevere. Amen.
Ben Keckler
06.04.08
Editor’s note: Mr. Keckler serves as a hospital Director of Chaplaincy in the greater Indianapolis area.
A reading for today: Luke 5: 17-26
“I believe in people who care.
What these empathetic people do requires real courage,
For they do not know how they will be received,
Or if they will be understood.
What they give requires great perseverance,
For healing is a time-consuming process,
And staying with others in their pain
Is an energy-draining experience.”
--James Miller
We continue to focus on Jim Miller’s, “An Affirmation of Those Who Care”. Today we view an interesting passage of Sacred Scripture and, as we do, pay particular attention to the men who were presenting their friend for healing.
Courage is present each time we enter the room, the space of another. Courage because we choose to be available without knowing the exact need. Courage because our presence could feel like an invasion of privacy. Courage because we may need to say the difficult word. Courage because we may need to perform a pain producing task. Courage because…………..… The list of ways caregivers demonstrate courage is a long list.
The gift of perseverance is a gift demonstrated many times in many ways by primary and secondary caregivers and also by all sorts of ancillary people. “We will until” is a possible motto for those whose role is caregiving. The Sacred Scripture story demonstrates that. The men, in effect, are saying: “OK, if they won’t let us in the door, we will carry him onto the roof, we’ll cut a hole in the roof, we’ll tie some rope on the handles and we’ll lower him down through the opening.” They were willing to be drained of their energy because the need of their friend was great.
Blessings to you today as you continue the courageous work of caregiving.
A prayer for today: Holy God, grant me courage and the ability to persevere. Amen.
Ben Keckler
06.04.08
Editor’s note: Mr. Keckler serves as a hospital Director of Chaplaincy in the greater Indianapolis area.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Daily Devotions - Tuesday, June 3
The Practice of Caregiving!
A reading for today: Luke 7: 36-50
“I believe in people who care.
I believe the work they do
Is both deceptively simple and unusually difficult.
Their task is to offer those who so need it something irreplaceable:
Their own humanness.
They bestow a priceless gift:
Themselves, and the best of themselves.
They approach the other holding out what they have to offer:
Their sensitivity, their belief, their dedication.
They bring into the open what they choose not to hide:
Their woundedness, their honesty, their compassion.”
--James Miller
Today we look at a little more of Jim Miller’s “An Affirmation of Those Who Care”. It is coupled with an illustrative reading from Sacred Scripture, particularly when viewing the woman in the story as the primary caregiver.
Taking time to reflect on both the story and Jim’s affirmation can be helpful in a couple of ways. First, they can help us gain a renewed vision for our work. The demands of daily routine have the potential to drain both our regular and our reserve fuel tank. Second, they can help us get in touch with our inner core. We, who enter this caregiving work and stay in it, do so because something deep within is pushing us to offer our humanness and our compassion to another hurting soul.
Today is another day filled with the opportunity to care. Have a blessed day!
A prayer for today: God of life, bless my caregiving with sensitivity and compassion.
Ben Keckler
06.03.08
Editor’s note: Mr. Keckler serves as a hospital Director of Chaplaincy in the greater Indianapolis area.
A reading for today: Luke 7: 36-50
“I believe in people who care.
I believe the work they do
Is both deceptively simple and unusually difficult.
Their task is to offer those who so need it something irreplaceable:
Their own humanness.
They bestow a priceless gift:
Themselves, and the best of themselves.
They approach the other holding out what they have to offer:
Their sensitivity, their belief, their dedication.
They bring into the open what they choose not to hide:
Their woundedness, their honesty, their compassion.”
--James Miller
Today we look at a little more of Jim Miller’s “An Affirmation of Those Who Care”. It is coupled with an illustrative reading from Sacred Scripture, particularly when viewing the woman in the story as the primary caregiver.
Taking time to reflect on both the story and Jim’s affirmation can be helpful in a couple of ways. First, they can help us gain a renewed vision for our work. The demands of daily routine have the potential to drain both our regular and our reserve fuel tank. Second, they can help us get in touch with our inner core. We, who enter this caregiving work and stay in it, do so because something deep within is pushing us to offer our humanness and our compassion to another hurting soul.
Today is another day filled with the opportunity to care. Have a blessed day!
A prayer for today: God of life, bless my caregiving with sensitivity and compassion.
Ben Keckler
06.03.08
Editor’s note: Mr. Keckler serves as a hospital Director of Chaplaincy in the greater Indianapolis area.
Monday, June 2, 2008
Daily Devotions - Monday, June 2
The Practice of Caregiving!
“I believe in people who care.
Even more, I believe in what these generous people offer others.
They bring caregiving down to its essentials:
They offer not abstract ideas, but personal attention;
Not definitive answers, but reasonable assurance;
not empty platitudes, but authentic hope.”--James Miller
This week (Monday-Thursday) our devotions will focus on a piece, “An Affirmation of Those Who Care” by Jim Miller, a personal friend who has devoted much of his ministry to writing and producing materials for bereavement. Over the course of Jim’s life, he has come in touch with thousands of caregivers. His words offer meaningful insights about the work of caregiving.
Caregiving is all about offering hope—hope springing forth from loving hearts. Recently, while visiting with a patient who happens to be a caregiver in another institution, these words were shared with me: “In the entire time I’ve been here I haven’t experienced one bad shift. Hear me now, not one bad shift.”
The patient went on to share a number of hope-filled statements, attributing the healing process primarily to personal faith and to the care received. As we begin another week of caregiving, may we be empowered as authentic caregivers.
A prayer: God, working in and through me, continually grace my life and help me share authentic hope with others. Amen.
Ben Keckler
06.02.08
Editor’s note: Mr. Keckler serves as a hospital Director of Chaplaincy in the greater Indianapolis area.
“I believe in people who care.
Even more, I believe in what these generous people offer others.
They bring caregiving down to its essentials:
They offer not abstract ideas, but personal attention;
Not definitive answers, but reasonable assurance;
not empty platitudes, but authentic hope.”--James Miller
This week (Monday-Thursday) our devotions will focus on a piece, “An Affirmation of Those Who Care” by Jim Miller, a personal friend who has devoted much of his ministry to writing and producing materials for bereavement. Over the course of Jim’s life, he has come in touch with thousands of caregivers. His words offer meaningful insights about the work of caregiving.
Caregiving is all about offering hope—hope springing forth from loving hearts. Recently, while visiting with a patient who happens to be a caregiver in another institution, these words were shared with me: “In the entire time I’ve been here I haven’t experienced one bad shift. Hear me now, not one bad shift.”
The patient went on to share a number of hope-filled statements, attributing the healing process primarily to personal faith and to the care received. As we begin another week of caregiving, may we be empowered as authentic caregivers.
A prayer: God, working in and through me, continually grace my life and help me share authentic hope with others. Amen.
Ben Keckler
06.02.08
Editor’s note: Mr. Keckler serves as a hospital Director of Chaplaincy in the greater Indianapolis area.
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