Friday, February 24, 2006
Perspective
First of all, I am back after a long hiatus. One of my DPS friends challenged me and so I got on the stick. Thanks, OMG.
So, lately has been challenging at work. Our management is rather chaotic, and everyone on the team are doing 3 jobs at once, thus doing none of them well. Today, I was going to do an inservice on Death and Dying for the staff of a facility over an hour from our office.I set out and hit massive traffic. . . it is LA afterall! I had given myself enough time to get there, but also had times where I was sitting still on the "Freeway." I call the facility to let them know I am going to be about 15 minutes late, and was informed that we weren't scheduled for another couple of weeks. She had another group there who had already begun another inservice. At the time I was 1 and 1/2 hours into the trip, and 15 minutes away from the destination. I am not sure whether the staff development director double scheduled herself, or whether our marketing people messed up, or a combo of both, but I was really mad. So I fussed and fumed and vented to a friend, and went home to do some paperwork, not being in a frame of mind to be pastoral.
But then, when I arrived home, and vented a bit more, I called a friend whose father was dying to see how they were all doing. I spoke to Pete who told me about his dad's death, and how peaceful it was, but more than that, were his other comments to me helped me to get things in the right perspective.
You see years ago, when I was first beginning in Hospital Chaplaincy, Pete and his family lived across the street from me. I was in my last year of seminary, and I would often go over to visit and discuss life with Pete and Sue. One day, Sue called me and asked me if I could come over to talk to Pete. His best friend had died in his arms. I was finishing a term paper that was due the next day. I wrestled with what to do, and decided that if I ever let a term paper overrule the need of a brother or sister, that I should give up ministry now. I went and spent about 5 hours, that moved as if we were in some kind of a time machine. It was a profound time for all of us, discussing faith, life, death and dying, grief, . . .
Well the years passed and we have both moved, and keep in touch through Christmas letters and occasional phone calls. One of which was last night, when I called to say hello and learned Pete's father was dying, and that Pete had actually almost died last year, and went through this amazing renewal of faith. So Pete says, " I cannot tell you how much it amazes me that you were the only one there for me when my best friend died. And now, we haven't talked for so long and yet you call, when my dad is dying." He went on to express love and appreciation, and told me he had so much to share. We committed to get together soon for one of our soul talks that happens once every 15 years or so!
But suddenly, perspective came back, that the little pieces of life and work that bring annoyances; the traffic jams and spending 2 1/2 hours in the LA traffic for no purpose, the management team that is fragmented, etc. doesn't hold a candle to having been able to touch another's soul. So, I am grateful.
So, lately has been challenging at work. Our management is rather chaotic, and everyone on the team are doing 3 jobs at once, thus doing none of them well. Today, I was going to do an inservice on Death and Dying for the staff of a facility over an hour from our office.I set out and hit massive traffic. . . it is LA afterall! I had given myself enough time to get there, but also had times where I was sitting still on the "Freeway." I call the facility to let them know I am going to be about 15 minutes late, and was informed that we weren't scheduled for another couple of weeks. She had another group there who had already begun another inservice. At the time I was 1 and 1/2 hours into the trip, and 15 minutes away from the destination. I am not sure whether the staff development director double scheduled herself, or whether our marketing people messed up, or a combo of both, but I was really mad. So I fussed and fumed and vented to a friend, and went home to do some paperwork, not being in a frame of mind to be pastoral.
But then, when I arrived home, and vented a bit more, I called a friend whose father was dying to see how they were all doing. I spoke to Pete who told me about his dad's death, and how peaceful it was, but more than that, were his other comments to me helped me to get things in the right perspective.
You see years ago, when I was first beginning in Hospital Chaplaincy, Pete and his family lived across the street from me. I was in my last year of seminary, and I would often go over to visit and discuss life with Pete and Sue. One day, Sue called me and asked me if I could come over to talk to Pete. His best friend had died in his arms. I was finishing a term paper that was due the next day. I wrestled with what to do, and decided that if I ever let a term paper overrule the need of a brother or sister, that I should give up ministry now. I went and spent about 5 hours, that moved as if we were in some kind of a time machine. It was a profound time for all of us, discussing faith, life, death and dying, grief, . . .
Well the years passed and we have both moved, and keep in touch through Christmas letters and occasional phone calls. One of which was last night, when I called to say hello and learned Pete's father was dying, and that Pete had actually almost died last year, and went through this amazing renewal of faith. So Pete says, " I cannot tell you how much it amazes me that you were the only one there for me when my best friend died. And now, we haven't talked for so long and yet you call, when my dad is dying." He went on to express love and appreciation, and told me he had so much to share. We committed to get together soon for one of our soul talks that happens once every 15 years or so!
But suddenly, perspective came back, that the little pieces of life and work that bring annoyances; the traffic jams and spending 2 1/2 hours in the LA traffic for no purpose, the management team that is fragmented, etc. doesn't hold a candle to having been able to touch another's soul. So, I am grateful.
