II am a teacher and so if I am to be good at my job, I must be prepared. I must have thought through the day's focus, the needs of the class, and be ready to guide the thinking and discussion around that focus. So, when I began an internship as a hospital chaplain, I had to learn an entirely different way to "prepare". I had to learn tha…
II am a teacher and so if I am to be good at my job, I must be prepared. I must have thought through the day's focus, the needs of the class, and be ready to guide the thinking and discussion around that focus. So, when I began an internship as a hospital chaplain, I had to learn an entirely different way to "prepare". I had to learn that I was prepared when I was totally empty of my own agenda. I had to prepare myself to truly listen and that reqruired making space within to receive whatever was about to be received. IF we are too full of ourselves, we have no internal availability to receive the other.
What a powerful line, Caitlin: “I had to learn that I was prepared when I was totally empty of my own agenda.” It is often a hard place to get to, but, as you attested to, a place where one can truly receive what one needs to receive. Thank you.
Exactly. In my early days in seminary, almost 25 years ago, I was offered an image that has stayed with me strongly. A man who was a hospital chaplain in San Francisco came to talk to us students about his work. He said that before going into a room he would imagine putting all his own agenda items, cares, enthusiasms into a back pack and placing it in the hallway near the door. He would leave all those things outside knowing they would be there for him to reclaim and take with him once the visit was over. The backpack image makes the practice so tangible for me. This practice has really helped over the years. That was before cell phones, of course, but a contemporary addition is to turn off my phone completely because even little vibrations distract me into wondering who is trying to reach me.
Lovely! And precisely why my phone is always on silent. Which begs the question, why even carry one, but it is so I can receive what is there on my time! XO
It is being too full of myself that often ruins what could otherwise be a pleasant encounter with a clerk at the hardware store where I am trying to complete a transaction which is not going ‘my way’. Thank you for that thought.
Bless you, Janie Cook! For I was thinking, upon reading the prompt, I'd rather NOT prepare. I love how eloquently you said it, "If we are too full of ourselves, we have no internal availability to receive the other." I wonder...can our guests "see" or feel, rather, our "No Vacancy" signs posted on our hearts when we DO try and prepare. It just seems a little bit like peeking at a present before you are set to receive it, when you try and prepare ahead of time. You miss the surprise and mystery and, too, set yourself up for all kinds of perceived failure when it doesn't go how you think it should or want it to. Thank you!! Perfect share. We are kindred spirits. XO
II am a teacher and so if I am to be good at my job, I must be prepared. I must have thought through the day's focus, the needs of the class, and be ready to guide the thinking and discussion around that focus. So, when I began an internship as a hospital chaplain, I had to learn an entirely different way to "prepare". I had to learn that I was prepared when I was totally empty of my own agenda. I had to prepare myself to truly listen and that reqruired making space within to receive whatever was about to be received. IF we are too full of ourselves, we have no internal availability to receive the other.
What a powerful line, Caitlin: “I had to learn that I was prepared when I was totally empty of my own agenda.” It is often a hard place to get to, but, as you attested to, a place where one can truly receive what one needs to receive. Thank you.
Exactly. In my early days in seminary, almost 25 years ago, I was offered an image that has stayed with me strongly. A man who was a hospital chaplain in San Francisco came to talk to us students about his work. He said that before going into a room he would imagine putting all his own agenda items, cares, enthusiasms into a back pack and placing it in the hallway near the door. He would leave all those things outside knowing they would be there for him to reclaim and take with him once the visit was over. The backpack image makes the practice so tangible for me. This practice has really helped over the years. That was before cell phones, of course, but a contemporary addition is to turn off my phone completely because even little vibrations distract me into wondering who is trying to reach me.
Lovely! And precisely why my phone is always on silent. Which begs the question, why even carry one, but it is so I can receive what is there on my time! XO
"IF we are too full of ourselves, we have no internal availability to receive the other." WOW WOW WOW. Thank you!!!
“I had to learn an entirely different way to prepare.” Wise insight.
It is being too full of myself that often ruins what could otherwise be a pleasant encounter with a clerk at the hardware store where I am trying to complete a transaction which is not going ‘my way’. Thank you for that thought.
“If we are too full of ourselves, we have no internal availability to receive the other”.
Thank you, I needed this reminder today!
Bless you, Janie Cook! For I was thinking, upon reading the prompt, I'd rather NOT prepare. I love how eloquently you said it, "If we are too full of ourselves, we have no internal availability to receive the other." I wonder...can our guests "see" or feel, rather, our "No Vacancy" signs posted on our hearts when we DO try and prepare. It just seems a little bit like peeking at a present before you are set to receive it, when you try and prepare ahead of time. You miss the surprise and mystery and, too, set yourself up for all kinds of perceived failure when it doesn't go how you think it should or want it to. Thank you!! Perfect share. We are kindred spirits. XO