Friday, October 27, 2006
No more lone rangers!
Last night I went to the Resident's group, where we listened to Daniella. She has devoted her life to service. We all discussed how to balance work and life, how to not burn out, but that service is what we are all called to. Daniella, who is a ministry person from Peru, said that she relies on some pillars in her life to keep her strong and fresh. One is prayer: she prays for an hour and a half a day. (How realistic is that for us docs? Not very of course. But we CAN keep up a running prayer conversation during our days. Get the book "Practising the presence of God" by Brother Lawrence for an inspiring short read. By the by, the Resident's group introduced me to that one last year.)
Another pillar is community. She has six other women and they share lives and service. How many of us docs truly live in community? Most of us are Lone Rangers riding in to battle each day. Soon we become Lonely Rangers. The loneliness weakens us and makes us more susceptible to temptations. The local CMDA has the ability to start to become our community if we will let it. Other christians don't really understand the pressures of managed care, malpractice, or the drain that a sick patient or tragic situation can be. Other docs don't really understand the spiritual side (yet!).
At Porter, every Tuesday morning at 0700, there is a Physician Prayer breakfast. There was one at Avista, I think it may be on vacation. At Parker, the chaplain has a noon prayer time Monday in the chapel. (Get to know your local Hospital chaplain, too.) Are there other opportunities at other places? I suspect so. Send me the information and I'll publicize it. Matthew 18:20--"For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."
Another pillar is community. She has six other women and they share lives and service. How many of us docs truly live in community? Most of us are Lone Rangers riding in to battle each day. Soon we become Lonely Rangers. The loneliness weakens us and makes us more susceptible to temptations. The local CMDA has the ability to start to become our community if we will let it. Other christians don't really understand the pressures of managed care, malpractice, or the drain that a sick patient or tragic situation can be. Other docs don't really understand the spiritual side (yet!).
At Porter, every Tuesday morning at 0700, there is a Physician Prayer breakfast. There was one at Avista, I think it may be on vacation. At Parker, the chaplain has a noon prayer time Monday in the chapel. (Get to know your local Hospital chaplain, too.) Are there other opportunities at other places? I suspect so. Send me the information and I'll publicize it. Matthew 18:20--"For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."
